Governorship: Sanwo-Olu Abiodun, Abdulrazak lead (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to be heading for victory last night in the governorship election in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Bauchi States as results began coming in from the various polling booths. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was looking good in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebomyi and Akwa Ibom States. In Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC who was projected by The Nation as the candidate to beat yesterday, established a strong lead ahead of his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP with the majority of the votes cast in such areas as Ikorodu, Alimoso, Badagry and Lagos Island. Read more
Troops kill six terrorists in Borno army base attack (Punch)
Six Boko Haram insurgents have been shot dead during a gun battle when the terrorists attempted to overrun a Nigerian Army Forward Operation Base in the Ngwom community, Mafa Local Government Area, about 14 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Our correspondent learnt that the base, belonging to troops of the 122 Task Force Battalion, was attacked by the terrorists who came in four gun trucks, but met with resistance from the soldiers. According to the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, the troops shot six members dead and recovered weapons, including two gun trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns and five AK-47 rifles. Read more
Buhari: I expect Atiku to go to court (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that he expected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its presidential candidate in last month’s election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to go to court to contest the outcome of the polls. Atiku is already in court for that purpose. Going to court, Buhari said was part of the democratic process. The president spoke with journalists after casting his vote in the governorship and state assembly elections at the Kofar Baru 003 polling unit, Daura, Katsina State. Asked to react to Atiku’s decision to challenge the result of the presidential election at the election tribunal, Buhari simply said: “I expect that to happen.” Read more
Gunmen kill Oyo Rep as violence, apathy mar gov/state assembly polls (Punch)
Violence, voter apathy and vote-buying marred the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections that took place in the country on Saturday. Reports from most parts of the country revealed that killings, ballot box snatching and the militarisation of the process militated against the elections. It was also observed that voter apathy experienced during the February 23 Presidential and National assembly polls was a child’s play when compared with what happened on Saturday. In Lagos, Katsina, Ogun, the Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Imo, Katsina, Delta, Adamawa and most states across the country, voters stayed away from the polling units. Read more
PDP, other opposition parties are repeater stations, says Tinubu (Nation)
ALL Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday said that he was confident of victory in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State. He described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other smaller opposition parties in the Centre of Excellence as repeater stations, whose leaders only come out for periodic showmanship every four years before returning to their shells. Predicting doom for the PDP flag bearer, Tinubu said APC will win and form the next government in Lagos State because it enjoyed popular support. Read more
Buhari ‘ll give me a job if I lose — El-Rufai (Punch)
The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, said he was not jittery over the Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly polls in the state. The governor who spoke to journalists while waiting to cast his vote at his 024(A) Runka Street, Unwgan Sarki polling unit, said with President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection, he already got a job. He noted that his members of staff were bound to be jittery because they might lose their job should he lose his reelection bid. Read more
Onnoghen’s trial: Tension as NBA queries prosecuting SAN, may impose sanctions (Nation)
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has fired a query at Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), the prosecutor of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen in the ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for taking up the brief. The association accuses Umar of professional misconduct for accepting the brief. It says the senior lawyer’s action contravenes Rule 15 (3) (a) (b) and (c) jointly or severally of the Rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners. The query is now generating bad blood in the Bar along North-South divide following an alleged secret move to de-robe and delist Umar as a lawyer because the NBA demanded a copy of his Call to Bar Certificate. Read more
Four killed, one kidnapped in Rivers violence (Punch)
A policeman and three others were killed by suspected gunmen while a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs. Emilia Nte, was kidnapped in Rivers State. This is just as ballot box snatching and vote-buying characterised the exercise in some parts of the state. The policeman was said to have tried to protect Nte, who is a former council chairperson, from being abducted when the gunmen shot him. The incident happened at about 6pm on Friday in Nyeada, Andoni Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Osun: Hoodlums disrupt poll, engage soldiers in shoot out (Punch)
At Unit 9, Ward 7, Methodist High School, Ilaje, Ilesha, Osun state, some suspected cultists, few minutes after voting commenced on Saturday, disrupted the exercise for some hours. A voter, Ademiotan Olusola, who witnessed the incident, told our correspondent that the suspects came with 10 motorcycles and attacked one Banji Oyewumi said to be a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress. “The incident disrupted voting as many that were in the queue left for the fear of being attacked by the hoodlums who started beating Oyewumi inside the polling booth. Those that came are cultists. We know them in this area. Read more
Father, son killed, Benue hoodlums burn electoral materials (Punch)
Gunmen have shot dead a father and his son in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The Chairman of the LGA, Anthony Shior, told reporters that the victims were killed by herdsmen. He said, “As usual, the herdsmen on Friday night killed a father and son in a community close to Gbajimba.” Meanwhile, over 20 hoodlums, in the early hours of Saturday, set ablaze the Roman Catholic Church Primary School in Aya, where the electoral materials for the Mbalom ward in Gwer East LGA of the state were kept. Read more
Soldiers arrest Nasarawa woman for snatching ballot papers (Punch)
There was confusion at Polling Unit 026, Gayam Ward, Lafia in Nasarawa State on Saturday after a woman, suspected to be a political thug snatched ballot papers from electoral officials and ran away. The woman arrived at about 1pm with thugs said to be loyal to one of the parties and grabbed the ballot papers from the National Youth Service Corps members at the unit and ran away. Our correspondent, who was at the unit, observed that while policemen struggled in vain to arrest her, she was chased by some soldiers on Makurdi Road and some of the ballot papers were retrieved from her. Read more
Tunisian health minister resigns over 11 baby deaths (BBC)
The Tunisian Health Minister Abderraouf Cherif has resigned following the deaths of 11 newborn babies at a hospital in the capital, Tunis. Tunisia’s health ministry said evidence suggested they had all died from septic shock between 7-8 March. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said investigations have been launched into the state-run facility’s medical, pharmaceutical and hygiene practices. Mr Cherif’s resignation comes just four months after his appointment. In a Facebook post, Tunisia’s paediatrics society said the infection may have been caused by an intravenous product. Read more
Thousands join rival Venezuela rallies (BBC)
Rival demonstrations are taking place in Venezuela in response to calls by opposition leader Juan Guaidó and President Nicolás Maduro. In the capital Caracas, some supporters of Mr Guaidó scuffled with police and were driven back with pepper spray. Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president on 23 January and has been at loggerheads with Mr Maduro ever since. Saturday’s protests follow widespread power cuts that have affected much of Venezuela since Thursday. Read more
UK minister criticised as IS bride’s baby dies (BBC)
Home Secretary Sajid Javid is facing criticism after the baby son of Shamima Begum died in a Syrian camp. Ms Begum left London to join the Islamic State group aged 15. Mr Javid revoked her British citizenship when the teenager asked to return. A family friend said the UK had failed to safeguard the child while Labour said his death was the result of a “callous and inhumane” decision. A UK government spokesman said the death of any child was “tragic”. The spokesman said the government had consistently advised against travelling to Syria and would “continue to do whatever we can to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and travelling to dangerous conflict zones”. Read more
Kelly released from jail after child support paid (BBC)
Kelly has been released from jail in Chicago after the $161,000 (£122,000) he owed in child support was paid. The Cook County sheriff’s office said the money was paid on Saturday morning and he was set free shortly afterwards. It is unclear who made the singer’s payment. The embattled US R&B artist was last month charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, involving four alleged victims, three of whom were minors. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was released on bail after spending three nights in jail. If convicted, he faces three to seven years in prison on each charge. Read more
Sterling hat-trick helps Man City beat Watford (BBC)
Raheem Sterling’s quick-fire second-half hat-trick sent Manchester City four points clear at the top of the Premier League, but there was controversy over the opener that broke down a stubborn Watford side. With the game goalless at the start of the second half, Sterling was challenged by Daryl Janmaat as he ran on to Sergio Aguero’s flick and the ball cannoned off him and into the net. Sterling was clearly offside when Aguero chested the ball into his path and the lineman’s flag went up. But, after a long discussion with his fellow official, referee Paul Tierney overruled his decision, to the disbelief of the Hornets players. Read more
Rio Ferdinand tells Callum Hudson-Odoi to leave Chelsea (Metro)
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Callum Hudson-Odoi should leave Chelsea. Hudson-Odoi, 18, scored his fourth Chelsea goal in Thursday’s Europa League victory over Dynamo Kiev. Bayern Munich attempted to sign the English teenager in January, tabling at least one offer worth £35million to Chelsea chiefs. The German giants are expected to revive their interest in Hudson-Odoi this summer and Ferdinand says he should seriously consider leaving Stamford Bridge. Read more
Messi scores as leaders Barcelona win (BBC)
Lionel Messi scored a penalty as La Liga leaders Barcelona came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano and retain their seven-point lead at the top. Raul de Tomas, on loan from Real Madrid, had given Rayo a surprise lead with an excellent 20-yard strike. Gerard Pique headed an equaliser from Messi’s free-kick and the Barca captain nonchalantly put the treble-chasing champions ahead from the spot. Luis Suarez tapped home a late third after a one-two with Ivan Rakitic. Read more
Paul Merson reveals why Unai Emery could leave Arsenal next year (Metro)
Unai Emery could leave Arsenal next year if he is not backed by the club in the transfer market, according to Paul Merson. The Gunners boss was left frustrated in January after seeing only one player – Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez – arrive through the doors at the Emirates. Emery hoped to bolster his squad with a number of signings but it emerged that the north London club were only able to make loan deals. Arsenal are currently fifth in the Premier League but suffered a shock defeat to Rennes in the Europa League on Thursday and Merson says Emery must ‘sort out’ the defence in the next two transfer windows. Read more