INEC suspends electoral processes in Rivers (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission Sunday said it has suspended electoral processes in Rivers State due to “widespread disruption” of elections on Saturday. “The initial reports suggest that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centres,” INEC’s head of information and voter education committee Festus Okoye said. “Staff have been taken hostage and materials including result sheets have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.” Read more
Thugs shoot Police Inspector in Ogun, hijack ballot materials (Punch)
A Police officer simply identified as Inspector Peter was reportedly shot on Sunday when some suspected political thugs attacked officials of Independent National Electoral Commission at a collation centre in Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Our correspondent gathered that the incident, which occurred around 10a.m on Sunday, also left others wounded during the attack. It was further gathered that the policeman was among the security personnel drafted to guard the INEC’s collation centre at Ketu College in Igan-Alade area of Eggua Ward in Yewa-North LGA. Read more
INEC declares APC’s Abdulrazaq winner of Kwara governorship election (Guardian)
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of the All Progressives Congress has been officially declared the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Kwara State. Abdulrazaq polled a total of 331,546 votes out of a total of 453, 433 votes. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abdulrazaq Atunwa polled 114,754 votes. 9994 votes were rejected, the returning officer for the state Prof Sanusi Liman said on Sunday. Read more
INEC cancels 23 polling units’ results as violence mars election in Cross River (Punch)
The governorship election in Abi local government area of Cross River State was cancelled in 23 polling units as well as other polling units in the state, following violence and snatching of electoral materials. The collation officer for Abi LG, Prof. Simon Odey Ering, announced this while presenting the result for the governorship election in the LG. According to him, “16,170 registered voters could not vote because of ballot box and ballot paper snatching and other violence in 23 polling units.” Read more
Ogun Gov poll: APC’s Dapo Abiodun leads in 11 of 15 LGAs declared so far (Punch)
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dapo Abiodun, is currently leading Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement with over 39,480 votes in 11 of the 20 local government areas in Ogun state. The data available as at the time of filing this report revealed that Abiodun was leading in 11 local government areas out of the 15 announced so far by the returning officers from the various Local governments. Ogun State comprises 20 local government areas and three Senatorial districts. Read more
APC’s Masari clears 15 LGs in Katsina Gov polls so far (Punch)
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has won in all 15 local government area election results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The governor, who is seeking re-election for another term of four years, is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress. In the governorship election results announced on Sunday by the State Returning Officer, Prof Abdullahi Zuru, the APC scored 22,482 votes in Dutsi Local Government Area, while the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 10,564. Read more
We announced Alkaleri LGA results under violent threats —Bauchi INEC official (Punch)
There was uproar at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Conference Hall, at the INEC Headquarters, Bauchi, venue of the collation of results of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area on Sunday evening. Confusion started when the State Returning Officer of the governorship election, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, called the Collation Officer of Alkaleri LGA to step forward and announce the results alongside him. Immediately, an agent of the PPC, Col. Umar Tilde, raised an observation that there was no collation in Alkaleri Local Government Area. Read more
Two suicide bombers die in botched attack in Madagali (Guardian)
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) says two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers were killed on Sunday after a botched attack on Gulak, headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. Dr Muhammed Suleiman, Executive Secretary of the agency disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Sunday. Suleiman said three suspected bombers had targeted the Seminary Church in Gulak for attack, but the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on them exploded midway killing two, while the third ran into the bush. Read more
Plateau Gov polls: APC’s Lalong wins five of nine LGAs results declared so far (Punch)
The All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate in Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has won in five Local Government Areas out of the nine where results have so far been declared. The Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Jeremiah Useni, won in four council areas so far. Plateau has 17 council areas in all. In the results announced at the INEC collation office in Jos on Sunday, the council areas won by Lalong, who is also the incumbent governor of the state, included Jos East, Kanke, Kanam, Pankshin and Bokkos. Read more
Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika ‘to return’ amid protests (BBC)
Algeria’s ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika is expected to return home on Sunday. Mr Bouteflika, 82, has been staying at Geneva University Hospital for the last two weeks. He has rarely been seen in public since having a stroke in 2013. A government plane landed in the Swiss city on Sunday and is flying him back to Algeria, reports say. The president’s announcement that he would stand for re-election next month sparked huge protests across Algeria. The mass demonstrations, which have seen tens of thousands of people take part, are thought to represent the biggest threat so far to Mr Bouteflika’s 20-year rule. Read more
Turkey expels three German journalists (BBC)
Germany’s foreign minister has spoken out against Turkey’s decision to expel three German journalists. Heiko Maas said the decision was “unacceptable” and he would campaign against it. The reporters were given 10 days to leave the country. It is thought to be the first time Turkey has formally rejected the accreditation of foreign journalists. It has reignited concerns over a clampdown on press freedom in Turkey. Dozens of Turkish journalists have been jailed for alleged links to a group the government blames for a failed coup attempt in July 2016. Read more
Russia internet freedom: Thousands protest against cyber-security bill (BBC)
Thousands of people in Russia have protested against plans to introduce tighter restrictions on the internet. A mass rally in Moscow and similar demonstrations in two other cities were called after parliament backed the controversial bill last month. The government says the bill, which allows it to isolate Russia’s internet service from the rest of the world, will improve cyber-security. But campaigners say it is an attempt to increase censorship and stifle dissent. Activists say more than 15,000 people gathered in Moscow on Sunday, which is double the estimate given by the police. Read more
Wildlife World Zoo: Jaguar attacks selfie-taker (BBC)
A woman who stepped over a barrier to take a selfie at a zoo in Arizona, US, has been attacked by a jaguar. It happened on Saturday and the woman’s injuries were not life-threatening. When she crossed the barrier and approached the enclosure to photograph herself with the jaguar, it swiped out through the fencing, leaving deep gashes on her arms. Wildlife World Zoo director Mickey Ollson said there was “no way to fix people crossing barriers”. “They’re there for a good reason,” he said. Read more
Drake provides budget-friendly gig as he crashes £25 Fredo concert in Manchester (Metro)
Drake surprised fans after he appeared at a Manchester concert by British rapper Fredo – delighting fans who paid 25 quid for the gig. The Canadian singer is opening his Assassination Vacation tour at Manchester Arena tonight, but he couldn’t help but hype up local fans with his impromptu appearance a day early, as the God’s Plan singer joined Fredo on stage at his sold-out show at O2 Ritz Manchester. He crept onto the stage during Fredo’s performance on Saturday night, and the crowd went absolutely wild when they realised who it was. He then went on to tear up the stage with his song Nonstop from his album Scorpion. Read more
Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw (Punch)
Eden Hazard came to Maurizio Sarri’s rescue as the Chelsea star’s superb late strike earned a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Sunday. Sarri’s side were seconds away from another damaging defeat after Raul Jimenez put Wolves ahead at Stamford Bridge. Hazard spared the under-fire Sarri’s blushes with his thunderous stoppage-time equaliser, but it was still a frustrating day for the Blues boss. Sarri’s side had won three times in 10 days to temporarily silence reports that the Italian was facing the sack. Read more
Villa’s Grealish punched by Birmingham fan (Guardian)
Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish was punched by a pitch-invading Birmingham fan in a shocking incident during Sunday’s Championship clash between the bitter rivals. Grealish was in the Birmingham penalty area in the 10th minute when a man ran on to the field and threw a punch from behind at the Villa captain. The blow caught Grealish on the side of the head and sent him sprawling to the turf. Read more
Pochettino says top four could be Tottenham’s limit (Guardian)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned his side may have to accept the height of their current capabilities is to be a top-four club after a costly defeat against struggling Southampton. Spurs, who were on the fringes of the title race until two weeks ago, are now battling just to hold on to their place in the Champions League qualification places after their winless run was extended to four games with a 2-1 defeat at Southampton. Pochettino’s side, who have taken just one point from their past four matches, were in complete control after a dominant first half that saw Harry Kane score his 200th career goal. Read more
Sterling urges City to clinch quadruple (Guardian)
Raheem Sterling urged Manchester City to maintain their “amazing mentality” as the Premier League leaders chase an unprecedented quadruple. Pep Guardiola’s side won the English title in record-breaking fashion last season, but their defence of the crown has been much tougher, with Liverpool posing a serious threat. City have climbed back above the Reds in recent weeks and also lifted the League Cup trophy following their final win over Chelsea. Read more
Zlatan-less Galaxy beaten by MLS West leader Dallas (Punch)
Reto Ziegler’s penalty kick in the 53rd minute and Bryan Acosta’s blast in the 61st gave FC Dallas a 2-0 Major League Soccer victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Galaxy. The visiting Galaxy were without Swedish star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who didn’t train with Los Angeles during the week after suffering an Achilles tendon injury. Ibrahimovic, who scored 22 goals in 27 games for the Galaxy last season, scored an 80th-minute header in a 2-1 season-opening victory last Saturday against the Chicago Fire. The victory pushed Dallas atop the MLS Western Conference with four points and a plus-two goal difference to match Columbus for the league’s top mark overall. Read more
‘We spoiled the party’ – Mbappe agonises over Man Utd defeat (Guardian)
Kylian Mbappe said he was left “stunned” by Paris Saint-Germain’s gut-wrenching exit from the Champions League in midweek as Manchester United pulled off an improbable comeback in the last 16. Marcus Rashford’s 94th-minute penalty at the Parc des Princes gave United a 3-1 win in France to send the English club through on away goals after becoming the first team in the competition’s history to overturn a 2-0 home defeat. “I’m stunned. I haven’t been able to sleep,” Mbappe told TF1 in an interview. “It’s difficult, we’d worked so hard to get to this point and we’re disappointed. We’re going to try and pick ourselves back up.” Read more