INEC bars phones, cameras inside voting cubicles (Vanguard)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared that anybody who goes into the voting cubicle with a photographic device or a telephone to capture his choice of the party will be jailed upon prosecution.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC Voter Education and Publicity Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, made this known during a news programme on Channels Television.
Okoye made it clear that photographic recording or capturing device is not allowed at the voting cubicle. Read more
Prelate urges electorate to liberate Nigeria with PVCs, cautions vote sellers (Guardian)
Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence (Dr.) Oliver Aba, yesterday, called on the electorate to use their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to liberate the country by voting the leaders that would take Nigeria to her New Jerusalem.
The Prelate urged the electorate not to allow themselves to be bought with money to mortgage the future of their unborn children, warning that anyone who sells his or her vote would incur the wrath of God.
According to the Prelate, the answer to the current travails facing the nation is not in violent protest, arson and thuggery, which could hamper the progress of the country. Read more
MC Oluomo allegedly stops drivers from moving election materials (Vanguard)
There was commotion yesterday at three Local Government Areas namely Ojo, Apapa and Mushin as Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya (Aka M.C. Oluomo) led Lagos State Park and Garage Management Committee threatened and stopped Independent National Electoral Committee, INEC accredited vehicles from leaving the Councils’ offices with election materials.
Recall that the INEC and the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, a few weeks ago signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, on the logistics in the movement of election materials.
Confirming the development, the Lagos State Chapter Chairman of NARTO, Alhaji Kayode Odunowo said that he got reports from drivers in the three locations of harassment and threat to members of NARTO by members of Lagos Park and Garage Management Committee. Read more
Elections: We‘ll declare results speedily – INEC (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the results of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections will be declared as quickly as possible.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this at his media briefing in Abuja on Friday.
Daily Trust reports that the 2019 presidential elections result was formally declared after two days of the elections.
But Yakubu said the commission will speed up the process this year. Read more
Again, container falls on Ojuelegba Bridge despite ban (Punch)
A container has fallen on the Ojuelegba Bridge on Friday night affecting traffic flow in that area of Lagos.
This accident which happened around 8pm comes after the Lagos State Government banned articulated truck drivers from using Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges middle of February
Our correspondent observed that the container fell at the mouth of the bridge blocking access to traffic. Read more
Nigerians must avoid bandwagon effect, vote competent N/Assembly members – CSO (DailyTrust)
As Nigerians elect 469 members for both the Red and Green chambers of the National Assembly today, a civil society group, OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative and partners, have advised Nigerians to avoid a bandwagon effect election and vote for competent candidates.
Addressing a press conference at the House of Representatives Press Center, its director, Oke Epia, said merit and competence were being sacrificed in electing members of the National Assembly as a result of popularity of the party’s presidential candidates.
He said they had carried out research and studies on the trend and found out that such a trend was having a negative effect on the performance of National Assembly members regarding their legislative responsibilities. Read more
Shekarau presents 2 books on achievements, membership of 9th Assembly (Independent)
Two-term ex-governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, on Tuesday night presented two books detailing his membership, and oversight functions at the 9th Assembly to the general public.
The two books entitled: Sardaunan Kano: Malam (Dr.) Ibrahim Shekarau: The Making Of A Green Revolution Through The Transformation Of Smallholder Agriculture In Kano State Nigeria (2003—-2007)…The Legacy Of A Visionary Leader, written by Muhammad Umar Kura.
The second book is entitled: Shekarau—Senator Representing Kano Central Senatorial Zone (2019–2023): Exemplary Leadership And Effective Representation, edited by Sule Ya’u Sule, PhD. Read more
FG secures 5-year US visa term for Nigerians (Guardian)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed the full implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the United States of America with effect from March 1, 2023.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, gave the directive following the approval for the implementation of the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the governments of Nigeria and the United States of America.
The agreements amongst others include: The reciprocity of five (5) year tourist visa validity for American citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015; and the Extension of visa validity to three (3) years for Diplomats and government officials between the citizens of Nigeria and the United States of America. Read more
Thousands of Eurovision tickets made available for Ukrainian refugees (Sky)
Thousands of tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest will be allocated to displaced Ukrainians living in the UK.
The competition will take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in May after the city was chosen to host the competition on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine because of the Russian invasion.
As part of the UK’s commitment to honour Ukraine at the song contest, around 3,000 tickets will be made available so those forced from the country can attend the live shows. Read more
American Idol alum Taylor Hicks explains his years-long break from music (People)
There was a time after winning season 5 of American Idol where the world didn’t quite know where the music of Taylor Hicks ultimately belonged. He wasn’t entirely sure either.
“I was very fortunate to be on that show at that time,” Hicks, 46, tells PEOPLE. “But it was a different time.”
In recent years, the Birmingham, Alabama native began to see somewhat of a hole opening in country music, giving him a brand-new chance to give his bluesy and soulful sound a suitable home between the similar sounds of artists such as Tyler Childers and Chris Stapleton. Read more
Ben Stiller still has no apologies for Tropic Thunder (EW)
When it comes to his 2008 Hollywood sendup Tropic Thunder, Ben Stiller is still sorry, not sorry.
Responding to a fan tweet this week, the actor and director insisted that he makes “no apologies” for the controversial action-comedy, which infamously features Robert Downey Jr. in blackface and jokes criticized as being offensive to people with intellectual disabilities.
While the tweet had asked Stiller to “please stop apologizing for making this movie,” he replied, “Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”Read more
Ray Liotta honoured with posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (Standard)
Ray Liotta has been remembered as an “actor of rare calibre” as he was posthumously honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Goodfellas actor was praised for his “unparalleled capacity for vulnerability” and “charm and mischievousness” at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday.
Liotta died in his sleep last May at the age of 67 while filming on location in the Dominican Republic. Read more
Succession ending with Season 4 on HBO (THR)
Succession, the Emmy-winning HBO drama that helped redefine the premium cable network following the end of Game of Thrones, is ending.
Creator and showrunner Jesse Armstrong revealed that the upcoming fourth season will indeed be its final run on the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed premium cable network, telling the New Yorker that “there’s a promise in the title of Succession. I’ve never thought this could go on forever. The end has always been kind of present in my mind. From season two, I’ve been trying to think: Is it the next one, or the one after that, or is it the one after that?
“I got together with a few of my fellow writers before we started the writing of season four, in about November, December, 2021, and I sort of said, ‘Look, I think this maybe should be it. But what do you think?’ And we played out various scenarios: We could do a couple of short seasons, or two more seasons. Or we could go on for ages and turn the show into something rather different, and be a more rangy, freewheeling kind of fun show, where there would be good weeks and bad weeks. Or we could do something a bit more muscular and complete, and go out sort of strong. And that was definitely always my preference.” Read more
Death toll climbs above 50k after Turkey, Syria earthquakes (AlJazeera)
The number of people killed by the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month has now passed 50,000, according to the latest figures from both countries.
In Turkey alone, 44,218 people died as a result of the earthquakes, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Friday, while the latest announced death toll in Syria was 5,914.
The first earthquake on February 6 that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria measured a magnitude of 7.7 and a second, a little later, measured 7.6. The region has been rocked by more than 9,000 aftershocks since, according to the AFAD. Read more
Egypt 2023: CAF appoints Congolese referee for Nigeria, Mozambique clash (Vanguard)
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Yannick Malala Kabanga from the Democratic Republic of Congo as referee for Saturday’s 23rd Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash between Nigeria and Mozambique in Ismailia.
Kabanga will be assisted by Styven Moutsassi Moyo from the Republic of Congo (assistant referee 1), Pascal Ndimunzigo from Burundi (assistant referee 2) and Moroccan Jalal Jayed, who will serve as fourth official.
Justin Mumba from Zambia will be the match commissioner while Beninoise Rosalie N’dah will be the referee assessor. Read more
Chelsea boss Graham Potter received death threats to himself and his children (DailyStar)
Chelsea manager Graham Potter revealed he has received death threats from anonymous so-called ‘supporters’ saying they “want me to die and want my kids to die”.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion boss has been the target of enormous criticism ever since he took over the reins at the West Londoners. Chelsea have only recorded two victories in their last 14 matches in all competitions.
He has been given firm support and backing from Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and other stakeholders, who even said they want to manage his progress in “years not months”. However, while Potter is used to fans jeering him in West London, things have suddenly become very sinister. Read more
Fulham and Wolves share the points at Craven Cottage (RTE)
Manor Solomon struck again off the bench to earn Fulham a 1-1 draw with Wolves at Craven Cottage.
The winger came on to score his third goal in as many matches – after hitting the winner at Brighton last weekend and also netting against Nottingham Forest – cancelling out Pablo Sarabia’s first-half opener for Wolves.
The visitors were just three points above the Premier League drop zone going into the weekend but secured what could prove an important point against a high-flying Fulham side who have lost only two matches – at Newcastle and home to Tottenham – since the World Cup break. Read more
Defending champ Alcaraz reaches Rio Open semifinals (RFI)
World number two Carlos Alcaraz clawed back a break in both sets and dominated the tiebreaker to beat Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) on Friday in the ATP Rio Open quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old Spaniard notched his third win in three matches against 32-year-old Lajovic, including a quarterfinal win over the 80th-ranked Serbian in the quarterfinals at the Argentina Open last week.
Alcaraz went on to win that title to cement his return from a four-month injury layoff that saw him miss the Australian Open. Read more
Paul Casey, Jason Kokrak tied atop LIV opener in Mayakoba (ESPN)
Paul Casey birdied his last three holes for a 6-under 65 and a share of the lead with Jason Kokrak on Friday as the second season of Saudi-funded LIV Golf began at Mayakoba.
Casey was 5 under through 10 holes before he lost ground with a double bogey on the par-4 second hole. He responded with a hat trick of birdies to close out his round on the El Camaleon golf course at the resort south of Cancun.
Kokrak played bogey-free, chipping in for one birdie and holing a couple of lengthy putts. Read more