Makinde re-elected as Oyo governor (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared the Oyo State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde, as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Makinde polled 563,756 votes to beat his close rival Teslim Folarin of All Progressive Congress who scored 256,685 votes, while Adebayo Adelabu of Accord Party scored 38,357 votes.
“That Makinde Oluseyi having satisfied the requirement of the law is declared winner of the poll,” The state Returning Officer, Olusola Kehinde, said. Read more
Results released by INEC does not reflect wishes of people, Rhodes-Vivour (Guardian)
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Sunday said the election results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not reflect the wishes of voters.
Rhodes-Vivour accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC of colluding to disenfranchise voters in many parts of the state.
“Collusion between the ruling party and electoral officials to return the candidate of the APC is a slap on the face of democracy and everyone who came out to vote for us on Saturday,” Rhodes-Vivour said in a statement shared on his Twitter handle. Read more
Sanwo-Olu set for second term, wins 18 LGAs (DailyTrust)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is leading by a wide margin in the governorship election held in the state on Saturday.
Sanwo-Olu has won 18 out of the 19 LGAs declared so far while Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour won only one.
Only the results from the remaining local government, Eti-Osa, are being awaited. Election held in 10 polling units in the LG today while the results are still being collated. Read more
Crisis breaks out at VGC over time to end elections (Channels)
There has been a disruption in the ongoing elections in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) area of Lagos State over time to end the elections.
Crisis has erupted at polling unit 033 in VGC where some polling agents have insisted on elections ending by 2.30 pm.
This caused a crisis between the polling agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP). Read more
NDLEA seizes 1.2m pills of tramadol, Heroin consignment at Lagos airport (Vanguard)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have seized no fewer than one million, two hundred and five thousand two hundred and sixty (1, 205, 260) pills of opioids in two interdiction operations in Kogi and Gombe states.
This is just as anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos disrupted the activities of a drug syndicate that operated between Nigeria, East Africa, and Europe, with the arrest of two members of the cartel.
Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday disclosed that operatives at the Lagos airport had on Monday 13th March intercepted a member of the drug syndicate, Ejezie Vitus Ifeanyi, during screening of inward passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight from Malawi via Addis Ababa at the arrival hall. Read more
Plateau speaker, majority leader lose seats to PDP candidates (Guardian)
The Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Yakubu Sanda and the Majority Leader, Mr Daniel Nanlong both of All Progressives Congress (APC) have lost their seats to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates.
Sanda, who represents Pengana State Constituency was defeated by Mrs Happiness Akawu of PDP in the House of Assembly election held March 18.
Happiness is wife of the initial PDP candidate, late Mathew Akawu who died after the party primaries and was replaced by his wife. Read more
Police confirm murder of Tonye Cole’s DG in Rivers (Vanguard)
The All Progressives Congress, APC, is in deep regrets over the murder of the Director-General of Tonye Cole’s campaign in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State Chiosom Lennard, during the Saturday’s Governorship and State House Assembly elections.
Chisom, the Ubeta Community, Ward 10 leader of APC in the area was shot while trying to prevent suspected hoodlums, dressed in Police uniform, from hijacking election materials during the polls.
Spokesman of the APC in the state, Darlington Nwauju, said the victim was killed while trying to prevent policemen from hijacking electoral material from his polling unit. Read more
Thugs invade INEC office in Abia (Punch)
The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State has been invaded by thugs.
The commission disclosed this via its official Twitter handle on Sunday.
“Thugs have invaded our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State.
“Security agencies have been alerted. The Commission is monitoring the situation and will issue a statement shortly,” the post read. Read more
1 pub per town – Kenya’s plan to curb alcohol abuse (BBC)
Kenya’s deputy president has tried to take a radical step to reduce alcohol abuse in the country’s central region by saying that county governments should only allow one pub per town, but not everyone is convinced that this is a good plan.
“Even if they shut down all these bars, we will still drink,” Charles Ngugi tells me as he sips a local popular draft beer.
It was dark in the bar, but the morning light came through as the blinds flapped in the wind.
“This is not cheap or illegal liquor, so why do they want to interfere with my lifestyle and my party mood?” he asks as he raises his voice to be heard above the music blaring from the counter that nearly drowns out our conversation. Read more
Harry and Meghan in “tense” talks with palace over attending coronation (DailyBeast)
“Tense” negotiations are underway between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in order for them to attend King Charles’ Coronation in May. As reported by The Sun, a source told OK! magazine: “The Palace are trying to wrap up negotiations as quickly as possible because they can’t go right up to the wire. It could lead to chaos. It could very well be that it ends in stalemate, and they won’t attend. But the Palace is doing everything in its power to not let that happen. The Palace are organizing two schedules. One that includes the Sussexes and one the doesn’t. They want to be prepared for any eventuality.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—will join their parents and King Charles and Queen Camilla in the procession following Charles’ coronation going from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace, the London Times has reported. In rehearsal plans seen by the paper, the children will likely their parents in a carriage behind Charles and Camilla, who will be in the Gold State Coach. Read more
Amy Winehouse’s love for Frank Sinatra made a mark on debut album (HITC)
Amy Winehouse remains one of the UK’s most influential artists, despite releasing only two albums. Frank Sinatra was one of her many inspirations, which was apparent in her debut album, Frank.
2022 marks 11 years since the singer passed away from alcohol poisoning in July 2011. She would’ve been 38 years old.
Winehouse has been noted as an influence to countless artists, but the Back To Black singer also had her own list of influences, who go back to the 50s and 60s. Read more
Duran Duran recording new music with Andy Taylor, 62, amid his cancer battle (Metro)
Duran Duran are recording a new album with 62-year-old guitarist Andy Taylor.
Taylor, who left the band in 2006, announced his cancer diagnosis in November when the world-famous group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
At the time, Taylor confirmed he’d been battling stage 4 prostate cancer for five years.
Speaking in a new interview, bassist John Taylor revealed their former bandmate has agreed to part of a ‘meaningful’ new record the band’s working on. Read more
Taylor Swift rewards fans with 44 songs at epic opening concert of The Eras Tour (USAToday)
When Taylor Swift says she’s going to bring the eras of her career to the stage, believe her.
Not since the most vigorous days of Bruce Springsteen and his legendary live concerts has a mainstream artist packed so much music into one show. On Friday night at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, Swift kicked off The Eras Tour with a staggering 44 songs presented over a span of three hours and 15 minutes.
But more than just a roll call of her ubiquitous smash singles and fan-beloved album cuts, Swift’s show is as ambitious as a Broadway musical. Numerous moving set pieces, squads of dancers and backup singers, a quick-change costume parade, confetti, pyro, synchronized blinking wristbands and a gorgeous curved video screen to blanket her always-smiling visage to those in the farthest rafters complemented her songs, while her multifaceted band perched unobtrusively on a corner of the stage. Read more
A 14-year-old boy, nicknamed ‘El Chapito,’ arrested in Mexico for allegedly killing 8 people (Blavity)
A 14-year-old boy was arrested in Mexico on Thursday for the drug-related killing of eight people, the federal Public Safety Department said.
The child, nicknamed “El Chapito,” allegedly opened fire on a family while they were enjoying a birthday party at their house, The Associated Press reported.
Police also arrested a man who is accused of collaborating with the boy to carry out the attack the Jan.22 attack in the Mexico City suburb of Chimalhuacan, Global News reported. According to police, the boy and the man, who’s known as “El Ñoño,” arrived to the house on motorcycles and fired their weapons. Read more
Renfield teaser finds Nicolas Cage playing classic Dracula (MovieWeb)
Oscar winner and acting legend Nicolas Cage plays a classic version of Dracula in the latest teaser for the upcoming horror-comedy Renfield. Shared to social media, the new footage begins in glorious black-and-white before launching into the modern antics of The Count. And it’s a thrill to see Cage ham it up as a 1930s-style Dracula and channel the iconic portrayal of Bela Lugosi. You can check out the new teaser for Renfield below.
Seeing Nicolas Cage as the classic literary monster is by far one of the biggest selling points of Renfield, with the actor having declared that it was simply a matter of time before he donned the fangs and cloak. “The concept of Dracula, in itself, is a challenge. It’s been done so many times already. It’s been done very well and it’s also been done not very well,” he said recently. “I certainly admire Christopher Lee and Frank Langella and Bela Lugosi and Gary [Oldman]. But I wanted to see if I could bring something fresh to the character. And I also kind of always knew I had to do it at some point.” Read more
Hertha Berlin unlikely to sign on-loan Ejuke permanently (Guardian)
Hertha Berlin are very much unlikely to sign Chidera Ejuke on a permanent deal when his loan move expires during the summer, according to berliner-kurier.de, a German football website.
Ejuke linked up with Hertha on a season-long loan deal from CSKA Moscow of Russia last summer and looked quite good in Germany but he has since been on the sidelines due to an injury.
And according to berliner-kurier.de, “The season got off to a great start but Chidera Ejuke (25) still has to worry about his future at Hertha BSC. Read more
Ghanaian Herbert Mensah elected president of Rugby Africa (DailyTrust)
After the conclusion of the Rugby Africa Executive Committee Elections held yesterday, Herbert Mensah has been elected as the new President of Rugby Africa, the governing body of Rugby in Africa.
Mensah, known for his love of the game and extensive experience in sports administration, will oversee the continent’s rugby governing body for the next four years.
Herbert Mensah emphasized his impassioned goal for the advancement of African Rugby in his victory speech. He stated that his first aim will be to continue the work he has already started, assisting rugby to advance and thrive not only in Africa but globally. Read more
AFCON qualifiers: Ndidi, Iheanacho arrive Super Eagles’ camp Sunday (Punch)
Nantes winger, Moses Simon, will be one of the early arrivals at the Super Eagles’ John Woods Hotel camp as invited players begin to stream in for the quickfire double 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea Bissau’s Djurtus.
Simon will arrive on Sunday alongside TSG Hoffenheim of Germany defender Kevin Akpoguma. Leicester City of England duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are also expected in town the same day, the Nigeria Football Federation said on Sunday.
Simon, one of the longest-serving players in the team, is expected to play a key role in the two games that could see the Super Eagles snatch an early ticket to the 34th AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire early next year. Read more
FA Cup: Last-gasp Tommy Doyle stunner sends Sheffield United into semi-finals (IrishTimes)
Tommy Doyle took matters into his own hands to ensure he will emulate his grandfathers by playing at Wembley after firing Sheffield United into the FA Cup semi-finals with a stunning injury-time winner against Blackburn.
The Manchester City loanee has watched video footage of his paternal grandfather Mike Doyle and maternal grandfather Glyn Pardoe playing at the national stadium for City in the late 1960s and 1970s and he will now join them after his 25-yard thunderbolt earned a dramatic 3-2 quarter-final win at Bramall Lane.
His strike completed a late turnaround as United were heading out, trailing to goals from Ben Brereton Diaz and Irish international Sam Szmodics, which came either side of Sam Gallagher’s own goal, until the final 10 minutes. Read more
Man Utd beat Lewes to reach FA Cup semi-finals (BBC)
Manchester United reached the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals for the first time after beating Championship side Lewes.
United took an early lead through a Rhian Cleverly own goal before Vilde Boe Risa doubled their advantage after the break.
Lewes kept pushing and Emily Kraft pulled a goal back with a fine lifted finish over United keeper Mary Earps.
But the visitors sealed their progress late on when substitute Nikita Parris prodded home a third. Read more
Red Bull replaces Verstappen’s gearbox again after driveshaft failure (RN365)
Red Bull has elected to change Max Verstappen’s gearbox for the second time ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen suffered a driveshaft failure during the second part of qualifying, which left him starting from P15 on the grid.
After changing his gearbox on Saturday morning, the team has reverted back to the one he used on Friday. Read more