Two arrested for planting explosives on Ebonyi bridge (Nation)
Two persons have been arrested in Ebonyi state while planting improvised explosive devices, IEDs, on Idembia bridge Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi state. Governor David Umahi stated this in a special security situation broadcast on Friday. He said the arrest followed intelligence reports that some members of a political party were planning to bomb Bridges and other installations in the state. He said the two suspects were arrested by villagers living close to the bridge which links Ezza South to Ohaozara local government area. Read more
Hooded men in police uniform storm PDP meeting in Kogi (Punch)
Hooded men in police uniform on Friday stormed a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lokoja, Kogi State, but were prevented from disrupting the parley holding at former Governor Idris Wada’s residence. It was gathered that the hooded men were resisted by the party members who sent distress calls to the military which eventually dispersed the invaders. The Kogi State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Bode Ogunmola, confirmed the incident to our correspondent. Read more
‘Nobody would unseat me’, Buhari vows (Guardian)
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday vowed that nobody will unseat him after Saturday’s presidential election in the country. Buhari, who was elected president in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is running for another four years in office. In an interview published on CNN Africa’s Instagram page, Buhari declared that he was confident of remaining in office despite increasing tension from opposition parties, particularly- People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
Kogi senator involved in auto accident (Vanguard)
Ahmed Ogembe, Senator representing Kogi State Central on Friday survived an auto crash along the Abuja-Lokoja road on his way to Okene for elections. Mr Duke Opeyemi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senator, disclosed this in a telephone interview with newsmen on Friday in Lokoja. He said that the accident occurred at 9 a.m. on Friday, at Gegu community in Kotonkarfe LGA of Kogi state. Reports have it that Ogembe is seeking re-election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 National Assembly election in Kogi State central. Read more
PVC collection: INEC records 82% success in Kwara (Guardian)
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Attahiru-Madami has disclosed that the commission recorded 82 per cent success in the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state. Attahiru-Madami made this known on Friday in Ilorin while addressing journalists on the commission’s preparation for Saturday election. He said that 1, 407, 400 people registered for the PVCs in the state. According to the REC, as at the close of PVC collection on Mon, Feb 11, 1, 149, 969 PVCs had been collected by their owners. Read more
Ekiti communuity protest alleged killing of farmer by suspected herdsman (Punch)
The people of Ayegbaju Ekiti in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State staged a violent protest over the alleged killing of a farmer, Elijah Ogor, by suspected herdsmen. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ogor, in his 30s hailed from Benue State but was residing in Ekiti, where he engaged in farming. He was allegedly killed on his farm, located between Ayegbaju and Ido Ekiti communities late on Wednesday after his attackers had allowed their cattle to destroy his farm. Read more
Immigration to foreigners: vote and go to jail (Nation)
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has reiterated its warning to foreign nationals to keep off voting areas during elections or face prosecution, deportation. King Ekpedeme, the head of the service in Lagos gave the warning during a phone chat with our Correspondent on Friday. He said that the NIS had in the past five months engaged leaders of foreign nationals especially those from the Economic Community of West and Central African States (ECOWAS), (ECCAS) to speak to their people on the need to stay out of Nigeria’s elections. Read more
Heavy police presence, harmattan haze greets Umuahia ahead of poll (Guardian)
As the city of Umuahia in Abia state gears up for Saturday’s elections, residents in the quiet capital go about their business with a certain measure. The realisation of that the city will be shut down for the elections is not lost on them. There is the usual calm with the streets devoid of motor-bikes while the grass-green coloured ‘Kekes’ flood the roads. The traffic is light as wardens at their duty posts direct motorists. Some of the residents who spoke to The Guardian, rather than look forward to exercising their voting rights, are more concerned that their businesses will not open tomorrow because of the elections. Read more
South African govt rally behind Semenya on IAAF’s new gender rules (Guardian)
The South African government on Friday threw its weight behind Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya ahead of next week’s landmark hearing against proposed rules that aim to restrict testosterone levels in female runners. World track and field’s governing body IAAF has proposed rules that would force so-called “hyperandrogenic” athletes or those with “differences of sexual development” (DSD) to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount. But Semenya, 800m Olympic champion in London and Rio and a three-time world champion, is challenging the legality of the rules in a case which will be heard at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) from Monday. Read more
India will ‘completely isolate’ Pakistan (BBC)
India has said it will ensure the “complete isolation” of Pakistan after a suicide bomber killed 46 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir. It claims to have “incontrovertible evidence” of its neighbour’s involvement but has not provided it. Pakistan denies any role in the attack by militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, which is based on its soil. Thursday’s bombing of the convoy was the deadliest attack on Indian forces in the region for decades. Federal Minister Arun Jaitley said India would take “all possible diplomatic steps” to cut Pakistan off from the international community. Read more
Trump faces anger over wall emergency plan (BBC)
Democratic and Republican politicians have sharply criticised President Trump’s plan to use emergency powers to pay for a border wall with Mexico. Mr Trump is due to declare the emergency shortly in an attempt to bypass Congress, which has refused to approve $5.7bn (£4.4bn) for the wall. Senior Democrats accused the president of a “gross abuse of power”. Several Republicans also voiced concern. Building a border wall was a key pledge in Mr Trump’s election campaign. Declaring a national emergency would give Mr Trump access to billions of dollars for his project. Read more
Vatican envoy faces sexual assault claim (BBC)
The Vatican’s ambassador to France is under investigation for sexual assault. Luigi Ventura, 74, allegedly molested a junior official at a mayoral address to diplomats at Paris town hall on 17 January. The city mayor’s office filed a complaint on 24 January and a judicial investigation opened the next day. Archbishop Ventura has served as ambassador for 10 years. The allegations come amid a wave of sexual abuse accusations in the clergy. Read more
Luiz insists Chelsea stars still believe in Sarri (Punch)
Chelsea defender David Luiz insists there has been no dressing room revolt against manager Maurizio Sarri’s tactics despite a 6-0 mauling at Manchester City last weekend. Sarri has been criticised for refusing to adapt his style, even on the road against the best opponents. The Blues bounced back by beating Malmo 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday, but tougher tests lie in wait with the visit of Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday followed by a reunion with City in the League Cup final on February 24. Read more
Man City will ‘suffer’ against Newport, says Pep Guardiola (BBC)
Manchester City will “suffer” against Newport in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie, says boss Pep Guardiola. The Premier League champions travel to south Wales knowing their opponents have already beaten Leicester and Middlesbrough in the competition. League Two Newport have never been past the fifth round of the competition, while City are five-time winners. “They are taller and stronger than us. In some areas they will be better than us,” warned Guardiola. Read more
Coach Valverde extends stay at Barcelona (Guardian)
Spanish champions Barcelona announced Friday they have extended the contract of coach Ernesto Valverde for another season with the option of one more. Valverde, who took over at the Camp Nou in 2017 after joining from Athletic Bilbao, won the league and cup double last season. “FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde, the first team coach, have reached an agreement to extend the contract between the two parties for another season (2019/20) with the option for one more (2020/21),” the club said in a statement. Read more
Ferrari hope new F1 car will end drought (BBC)
Ferrari have unveiled the car they hope will end a decade-long Formula 1 title drought in 2019. Ferrari lost out to Mercedes in 2018 despite having a faster car at least as many times as their rivals, after a series of errors by Sebastian Vettel and the team. New team boss Mattia Binotto said the car was “a development of last year’s, not a revolution”. The team had tried to “raise the bar, try to be as extreme as we could”. Vettel is joined in the team by Charles Leclerc, in his second F1 season. “I am looking forward to this year. The team is on the right path and hopefully we can continue improving,” said Vettel. Read more