Lagos polls between protectors, aggressors says Fashola (Guardian)
A former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, Thursday said the residents of the state have just two choices to pick from during the Saturday governorship election. “The choice on Saturday will be for the people to decide between their protectors and their aggressors, for me, I will choose my protector,” Fashola said during TVC’s This Morning show. The former governor was in the company of the ruling All Progressives Congress Lagos state governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat. Read more
Election: Buhari arrives Daura (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari arrived his home town of Daura on Thursday ahead of the Governorship and State Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 9. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari landed at the Daura Helipad in a Presidential Chopper marked NAF-541 at 6:50 p.m. in company with his aides and close family members. The President was received by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar, his kinsmen, and hundreds of well-wishers. Read more
We will not tolerate act of holding our officials hostage – INEC Chairman (Nation)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it would no longer tolerate any attempt by politicians to hold its officials hostage and force them to declare winners of elections under duress. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the warning at the meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) ahead of Saturday elections, held at the commission’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja. He said that where such abduction occurs, the commission would not issue Certificates of Return. Read more
Atiku’s campaign DG, Gbenga Daniel, endorses Ogun APC candidate (Guardian)
The Director General of Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Gbenga Daniel, Thursday endorsed the ruling All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun. “I have directed all our Structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences,” said Daniel in a statement on Thursday. “I, therefore, enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people,” he added. Read more
APC accuses Dickson of sponsoring insecurity, fake news (Nation)
The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has accused the state governor, Seriake Dickson, of wasting the state’s scare resources to procure violence and compromise elections. APC State Publicity Secretary, Dofie Buokoribo, made the allegation while addressing journalists in Yenagoa. Buokoribo said Dickson was in the habit of playing victim and sponsoring fake news as a cover for his nefarious acts. Read more
PDP, Adeleke urge court to uphold petition in Osun Election Tribunal (Guardian)
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has urged the State Governorship Election Tribunal to uphold their petition and declare their candidate winner of the Saturday, September 22, 2018, election. Adeleke made the plea after the governor of the state, Isiaka Oyetola, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition which he described as a bedlam full of confusion The petition filed before the Tribunal sitting at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo District, Abuja by the PDP and its candidate challenged the declaration of Oyetola as the winner of the contentious gubernatorial election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Read more
Brussels Jewish Museum murders: Mehdi Nemmouche guilty (BBC)
A French-born jihadist who spent a year fighting in Syria for the Islamic State group has been found guilty of the murder of four people in an anti-Semitic attack in Brussels in May 2014. Mehdi Nemmouche, 33, opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a handgun at the city’s Jewish Museum. Three people died at the scene and one died later in hospital. A man who helped plan the attack and provided the weapons, Nacer Bendrer, was also found guilty of murder. Sentencing will be announced at a later date. Read more
Lionel Messi returns to Argentina squad for first time since World Cup (BBC)
Lionel Messi has been named in the Argentina squad for the first time since the 2018 World Cup. The Barcelona forward, 31, has missed six international friendlies following defeat by eventual winners France in the last 16 in Russia in June. He is part of a 31-man squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco this month. Paris St-Germain midfielder Angel di Maria, 31, has also been recalled for the first time since the World Cup. Read more
Ten-man Arsenal lose in Rennes (BBC)
Ten-man Arsenal suffered their first away defeat by a French club in European competition in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at Rennes. The Gunners appeared to be cruising when Alex Iwobi’s early cross from the left drifted past home goalkeeper Tomas Koubek, into the right corner. But Benjamin Bourigeaud’s stunning strike, which flew into the top right corner, levelled matters immediately after Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ dismissal for a second booking. Unai Emery’s side fell behind when Nacho Monreal deflected Mehdi Zeffane’s cross from the right past his own goalkeeper Petr Cech. Read more
Manchester City: Alleged financial fair play violations investigated (BBC)
Manchester City are being investigated by Uefa for alleged financial fair play violations. Uefa said the investigation “will focus on several alleged violations of FFP that were recently made public in various media outlets”. German news magazine Der Spiegel has published a series of claims, based on leaked documents, that Premier League champions City have violated FFP rules. City said: “The accusation of financial irregularities is entirely false.” The club added: “Manchester City welcomes the opening of a formal Uefa investigation as an opportunity to bring to an end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails. Read more
Man U fan fighting for life after ‘being stabbed by taxi driver’ (Metro)
A Manchester United fan has been left fighting for life after allegedly being stabbed in the chest by a furious taxi driver in Paris. The 44-year-old man, who has not been identified, underwent emergency surgery at the Georges Pompidou hospital on Thursday, following his side’s dramatic European Champions League win. The United fan had been with a group of friends travelling away from the Parc de Princes on Wednesday night after their side beat Paris St Germain 3-1 to knock the home side out of the league. Read more