Kaduna: 1 dies jubilating election victory (Guardian)
One person was feared dead on Monday night, when residents of Kaduna trouped out in jubilation to celebrate initial lead for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in weekend’s governorship elections.
The jubilations took place in parts of Barnawa, Sabon Tasha, Narayi, Ungwan Boro, Ungwan Sunday and other communities across Kaduna Central and Southern area, prior to the Independent National Election Commission’s final declaration of Senator Uba Sani as winner of the election.
The false excitement led to the death of a boy at Jaruwa junction, at Yakowa new road.
An eyewitness said the boy was knocked down by a moving vehicle. Read more
Anxiety heightens over Enugu, Abia gov results (Vanguard)
Anxiety over the release of the results of the governorship elections in Enugu and Abia States continued, yesterday, as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, continued to lay claims to victories.
Both parties have continued to mount pressure on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the results and announce their candidates as the winner.
They have also laid siege at the INEC office, vowing not to depart until the results were declared. Read more
Soludo: Respect rule of law, release Chude, Obi reacts to supporter’s arrest (Vanguard)
Labour Party (LP) standard-bearer for the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi has condemned the arrest of Nnamdi Chude, a fervent supporter of his party.
Obi, in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle on Tuesday, insisted that Chude’s arrest is a further confirmation of Nigeria’s inability to respect rule of law.
This comes on the heels of reports making the rounds on social media alleging the Anambra Police Command on Saturday, March 18 arrested Chude for tweeting against the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo. Read more
Red Line rail ready before June, says Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the Red Line Rail project will be ready for use as an alternative means of transportation for Lagosians before the end of his first term in office.
The governor gave the assurance on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at Oyingbo in Lagos after an inspection tour of the ongoing Red Line Rail project and vehicular overpass bridges at Yaba and Oyingbo train stations.
Sanwo-Olu was accompanied on the tour by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; the Managing Director of the Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, and some cabinet members of his administration. Read more
UNILAG Mass Comm alumni organise mentoring programme for fresh graduates (ThisDay)
The University of Lagos Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) has held its first mentoring session for new members.
The initiative became necessary to enhance the fresh graduates’ preparedness for the increasingly competitive labour market.
The Programme Coordinator, Dr. Kehinde Oyesomi, the Vice- President of UMCAA, stated that the programme was put together to increase the fresh graduates’ institutional knowledge and understanding of how the labour market works, increase their confidence and position them for professional development opportunities. Read more
INEC denies manipulating Abia guber results (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked viral reports suggesting that its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is attempting to manipulate the Governorship election result in Abia State.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the only communication sent to the state returning officer was the commission’s advice on the decision to suspend collation of results.
He said, “The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu never called the Returning Officer to give her a directive. Rather, the Returning Officer wanted the official communication on the Commission’s decision to suspend the collation of results in Abia State. The Chairman then directed that pending the delivery of the hard copies, the soft copies of the Commission’s letter be forwarded immediately to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Enugu State and the Administrative Secretary of Abia State. Read more
Alia pledges to clear salary arrears, pensions (Channels)
The governor-elect of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has decried the governance level in the North-Central State.
Addressing his supporters in Makurdi after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the March 18 governorship poll in the state, the Catholic cleric-turned-politician pledged to clear all outstanding salary arrears and pension.
“Our state Benue needs a total reset. Governance in our state has hit a historic low. We need all hands to be on deck. We need men and women whom the stool of the office cannot buy,” Alia stated. Read more
Buhari approves exemption of 5% excise duty for digital economy sector (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved exemption of the digital economy sector from 5 percent excise duty.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting of the Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty.
Also, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta said data prices in the telecoms sector are expected to reduce due to availability of data and competitions. Read more
J. Cole reveals he started smoking at a shockingly young age (NYPost)
Years before J. Cole was smoking up the rap charts, he was a 6-year-old taking drugs on a cigarette.
The 38-year-old “No Role Modelz” rapper, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, spoke about his single mother, Kay, being disappointed to learn about his habit during Tuesday’s episode of the “Lead by Example With Bob Myers” podcast.
“At 6 years old, I was smoking cigarettes regularly around the neighborhood,” Cole, who grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, told Myers, the president and general manager of the Golden State Warriors. Read more
Lily Rose, Chapel Hart and Jackson Dean among rising stars to perform at 2023 CMT Music Awards (People)
The 2023 CMT Music Awards are about to get even starrier!
The fan-voted award show announced Tuesday that the rising country stars set to take the Ram Trucks Side Stage include Megan Moroney, Jackson Dean, Nate Smith, Lily Rose, Avery Anna and Chapel Hart.
Moroney — who is up for breakthrough female video of the year and CMT digital first performance of the year, her first CMT Music Award nominations — will perform her viral single “Tennessee Orange,” while Rose will sing “Whatcha Know About That.” Read more
TWICE’s Chaeyoung deeply apologizes for wearing shirt with tilted swastika (People)
TWICE’s Chaeyoung is apologizing to her fans.
On Tuesday, the K-pop artist, 23, spoke out on Instagram after sharing a photo of herself wearing a t-shirt that contained a swastika.
“Hello, this is Chaeyoung from TWICE. I sincerely apologize regarding the Instagram post. I didn’t correctly recognize the meaning of the tilted swastika in the t-shirt I wore,” explained Chaeyoung.
In the since-deleted photo captured by The Escapist, Chaeyoung is sitting in a restaurant booth modeling a pair of sunglasses as she wears a white long-sleeve polka-dotted blouse underneath a white t-shirt with a figure of punk rock icon Sid Vicious and the swastika symbol. Read more
Keanu Reeves honours Lance Reddick at ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ premiere (UPI)
Keanu Reeves is remembering late friend and co-star Lance Reddick.
Reeves, 58, and the John Wick: Chapter 4 cast paid tribute to Reddick at the film’s Los Angeles premiere Monday.
Reddick played the hotel concierge Charon in all four of the John Wick films, and was to reprise the role in the upcoming spinoff Ballerina. The actor died suddenly Friday at age 60. Read more
Eric Clapton, Nick Mason and more sign petition for Roger Waters’ gig ban to be reversed (NME)
A petition has been launched to reverse the decision banning Roger Waters from performing in Frankfurt, Germany.
The former Pink Floyd member was set to perform in the city on May 28 as part of his This Is Not A Drill tour – however the show was pulled by the officials at Frankfurt City Council following accusations of anti-Semitism.
Now, famous faces including Eric Clapton, Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello and Pink Floyd’s own Nick Mason have rallied behind Waters, and backed a Change.org petition aiming to have the decision overturned. Read more
Zach Braff says former partner Florence Pugh inspired his new film (CNN)
Zach Braff says his new movie, “A Good Person,” was heavily inspired by his ex-girlfriend, actress Florence Pugh.
“I’m just in awe of her talent and I said, ‘I wanna write this for Florence. What I’m writing is really gonna be challenging and she’s incredible,’” he told Entertainment Tonight while promoting the film.
Braff and Pugh dated for three years before parting ways in 2022.
Pugh plays Allison in the movie, a woman who survives a terrible tragedy and becomes addicted to opioids. Read more
Chris Tucker details return to the big screen after 7 years for film ‘‘AIR’’ (Vibe)
Chris Tucker has been away from the big screen since his last film, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk in 2016. Best known for his roles in cult classics like Friday and the Rush Hour films, Tucker has now explained why he’s decided to return to the box office in 2023.
The 51-year-old will be starring in the Ben Affleck-directed film ‘‘AIR’’ — a drama based on the rise of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan sneakers under the Nike imprint.
While speaking at the premiere of the film during SXSW in Austin on Saturday (March 18), Tucker — who will play his friend and Jordan Brand vice president, Howard White — revealed why he decided to take on the role. Read more
AFCON Qualifiers: Fans query Peseiro’s invitation of inactive players (Punch)
With barely 48 hours to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau, fans of the three-time African champions have queried the inclusion of some players in the squad for the doubleheader, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, caused a stir with his squad list for the game after he included Kingsley Aniagboso a goalkeeper with second-division club Giant Brillars and Daniel Bameyi of YumYum FC.
Bameyi, 17, captained the Flying Eagles at the recent U-20 AFCON in Egypt Bameyi, 17, is registered as a defender by non-league side YumYum FC. Read more
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall fumes at UEFA for not making goal line technology mandatory in Women’s Champions League (DailyMail)
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall hit out at UEFA for failing to make goal-line technology compulsory in the women’s Champions League after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich.
Lea Schuller scored the only goal of the game in the first half but the Gunners thought they had equalised in the second when Stina Blackstenius saw an effort cleared off the line.
While VAR was in use at the Allianz Arena, goal-line technology was not a mandatory requirement and was not available to the officials. Read more
Matt Doherty backs his former boss Antonio Conte as pressure at Tottenham mounts (IrishIndependent)
Matt Doherty has given his backing to his former coach at Tottenham ahead of a likely exit from Spurs for Antonio Conte.
Now in Spain with Atletico Madrid after a deadline day move from Spurs, Doherty has kept an eye on his former club and even though a departure for Conte is expected in the wake of his comments after the weekend draw with Southampton, Doherty would want the former Italy boss to remain on.
“Look, I hope he stays for a long time at Tottenham. He’s an unbelievable coach, an unbelievable manager. He won’t say anything in the press that he won’t say to his players, he’s completely honest with his players, has the passion for the whole club,” Doherty said at a press conference today. Read more
Francisco Lindor supports World Baseball Classic despite Edwin Diaz injury (ABC)
New York Mets star Francisco Lindor is all-in on the World Baseball Classic and disagrees with the stance that Major League Baseball players should avoid the event because of the risk of injury.
Lindor addressed a wide range of WBC-related topics with reporters Monday night — five days after teammate Edwin Diaz suffered a season-ending knee injury while celebrating a victory by Puerto Rico.
The injuries to Diaz and Houston Astros star Jose Altuve have reignited the debate over MLB players participating in the WBC. Although he said Diaz’s injury “broke my heart,” Lindor told reporters he “100 percent” plans to play for Puerto Rico again in the next WBC and said “it’s a blessing and an honor and a privilege” to represent his country. Read more
Christian Horner explains why Jeddah was Sergio Perez’s best performance (PlanetF1)
Red Bull boss Christian Horner hailed Sergio Perez’s Saudi Arabian GP as his best race yet, but why exactly does he think that?
From the outside looking in of course, it is very easy to agree with that suggestion on a weekend that began with Perez making it back-to-back Saudi Arabian GP poles, while Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen was forced to start P15 after a driveshaft failure eliminated him from qualifying.
And unlike on Formula 1’s last visit to Jeddah, this time Perez converted that pole position into the race win, keeping his team-mate at bay comfortably after a Safety Car restart which had bunched the pack up, Verstappen ultimately taking P2. Read more
Roma set new attendance record for Italian women’s football with slim loss to Barcelona in UWCL (ABC)
Italian football giants Roma made history in more ways than one on Wednesday morning, setting a new attendance record for Italian women’s football in their first ever UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final against former winners Barcelona.
Some 39,454 fans flocked to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to watch the Serie A Women leaders take on the Spanish champions, with Barcelona securing a slim 1-0 win in the first leg of the tie.
The quarter-final overtook the previous record of 39,027, set by Roma’s domestic rivals Juventus in their league win over Fiorentina in 2019, which was itself two-and-a-half times larger than the record before it. Read more