Lagosians have spoken, says Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
Lagos governor-elect Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu yesterday accepted the mandate given to him to steer the ship of the state for the next four years beginning from May 29. Sanwo-Olu, who was All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s governorship election, polled 739,445 votes to defeat his closest rival Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Agbaje garnered 206, 141 votes. In his electoral victory speech, the governor-elect said the people have spoken resoundingly with the ballot, promising not to let them down. Read more
Police inspector slumps, dies while going to work (Punch)
A police inspector has slumped and died while going to work at the Abule-Ado bus stop on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. The inspector, who was identified as Amiel Dilli, was attached to the Trade Fair Complex Division of the Nigeria Police Force. A man, who said he knew the inspector but preferred to be anonymous, told PUNCH Metro that Dilli had complained of not feeling well before he slumped and died on his way to work on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Read more
REC confirms boat mishap in Delta as police sue for calm (Guardian)
Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Cyril Omoregbe, has confirmed that there was a boat mishap on elections eve on Saturday.Ho could not, however, confirm the fate of the occupants of the mishap that took place in Warri North Local Government Area during the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Asaba yesterday. He said: “I understand that my staff members and the ad-hoc staff are all safe. The actual details have not gotten to me. And I don’t think the mishap affected the electoral materials, because it happened later in the day, from what I know.” Read more
How Akpabio’s loyalists unleash mayhem on us —INEC (Punch)
Facts emerged on Sunday on how uniformed and plain-clothes security operatives loyal to the former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, allegedly battered some ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A senior lecturer in the University of Uyo (name withheld), who is one of the collation officers in Essien Udim LGA, said he narrowly escaped being lynched when the senator and his loyalists forcefully took over the activities at the collation centre at about 10pm on Saturday. He said they were in the process of verification and collation when Akpabio stormed the venue with several uniformed and plain-clothes men. Read more
PDP agents arrested, detained as violence erupts in Akpabio’s domain (Guardian)
No fewer than seven agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who attempted to resist unlawful electoral practices have been arrested and detained at Essien Udim Divisional Police Headquarters in Akwa Ibom State. No charges had been preferred against them. This followed violence in Essien Udim Local Government Area, Senator Godswill Akpabio’s domain in the Ikot Ekpene division of the state. Read more
Mob torches INEC office in Imo as resident officer goes missing (Punch)
A mob has set the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Ngor-Okpalla Local Government Area of Imo State, on fire. It was gathered that the people also assaulted a security guard at the office and snatched his phone as the electoral officer escaped being attacked during the incident on Sunday. Following the development, the electoral officers were directed to return to the INEC office in Owerri, the state capital, to collate the results of the Governorship and state House of Assembly results. Read more
Nasarawa electoral chair arrested over ballot paper snatching (Punch)
The police in Nasarawa State say they have arrested the chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission electoral commission, Mr Henry Omaku, for allegedly snatching ballot papers during Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Doma Local Government Area of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, confirmed Omaku’s arrest during an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday. The CP said Omaku had been quizzed by the force over the incident. Read more
APM alleges irregularities, rejects results in Ogun State (Guardian)
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ogun State has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend announcement of Saturday’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections results in the state. Chairman of APM Campaign Organisation, Sarafa Isola, made the call yesterday at a media briefing in Abeokuta. Isola alleged that some hoodlums and unidentified men in uniform disrupted the votes counting process at various centres and falsified the result sheets in several council areas. The affected council areas, according to Isola are, Abeokuta-South, Abeokuta-North, Odeda, Ifo, Obafemi-Owode and all council areas in the Ogun-East Senatorial district. Read more
Soldiers tear-gas protesting women in Rivers, PDP kicks (Punch)
Men of the Nigerian Army on Sunday fired tear-gas carnisters at protesting women at the GRA Junction in Port Harcourt, near the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State. The women, who were all dressed in black, were protesting military’s siege on INEC office. They also asked the electoral body to ensure their votes counted. They were, however, dispersed by the soldiers. Read more
NJC begins hearing on petitions against Onnoghen, acting CJN (Punch)
An investigative panel of the National Judicial Council will this week begin hearing on the petitions of alleged misconduct written against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen; and the Acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, The PUNCH learnt on Sunday. Our correspondent learnt the five-man panel set up by the NJC to investigate the petitions against the top judicial officers would conduct a hearing on Muhammad’s case on Tuesday. It was also learnt that the panel had its first sitting on Onnoghen’s case on February 6 and adjourned till Wednesday. Read more
HND graduates contest ARCON’s plan to transfer suit (Guardian)
Legal moves by the Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to seek transfer of the suit filed against it by Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates to Lagos have met a stiff opposition. The HND graduates had dragged their professional body, ARCON to a Federal High Court, Akure for allegedly discriminating against their certificates. Usually, the graduates were allowed to rise to the pinnacle of the profession through the Finals I and II examinations after a long duration, which was suspended in 2016. Read more
Ethiopian Airlines: Boeing faces questions after crash (BBC)
US plane maker Boeing faces questions after an Ethiopian Airlines 737 crash on Sunday killed all 157 people on board. It was the second crash in five months involving a 737 Max 8, the newest version of the plane. Comparisons are being drawn with a Lion Air accident last October where the plane lost altitude soon after takeoff. However, experts warn it is too early to say what caused the Ethiopian Airlines disaster. Read more
Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar ‘lived close to US bases’ (BBC)
Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar lived within walking distance of US bases in Afghanistan, a new book has claimed. Bette Dam’s The Secret Life of Mullah Omar says the leader never hid in Pakistan as believed by the US. Instead, he lived in hiding just three miles from a major US Forward Operating Base in his home province of Zabul. Dutch journalist Ms Dam spent five years researching and interviewing Taliban members for her book. Read more
Chris Smalling: Manchester United defender shoved by fan during game against Arsenal (BBC)
A fan ran on to the pitch and shoved Manchester United defender Chris Smalling during his side’s away match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. The incident happened shortly after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had converted a 69th-minute penalty to give the Gunners a 2-0 lead against United. After pushing Smalling, the man ran with his arms aloft towards the Gunners players celebrating their goal. Smalling was unhurt and the fan was taken off the pitch and arrested. Read more
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gives special shoutout to Alexandre Lacazette after Arsenal win (Metro)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent a special message to Alexandre Lacazette after his strike partner insisted he take a penalty against Manchester United. Arsenal beat United 2-0 at the Emirates in a criticial win for the Gunners in the race for the top four in the Premier League and Aubameyang converted a penalty in the win. The goal from the spot-kick came hot on the heels of Aubameyang missing a penalty in the north london derby draw with Tottenham, and some fans were surprised to see the striker step forward again. Read more
Kelly Catlin: Three-time world track champion dies aged 23 (BBC)
Three-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Kelly Catlin has died aged 23, USA Cycling has confirmed. Catlin won three straight team pursuit world titles on the track from 2016 to 2018, claiming silver in the same event at the Rio 2016 Games. She competed for Rally UHC Cycling on the road and was studying for a graduate degree at Stanford University. “We are deeply saddened by Kelly’s passing,” said USA Cycling president and chief executive Rob DeMartini. Read more