Why I won’t congratulate President – Atiku (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 23 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, said he would not congratulate the President Muhammadu Buhari because the election was not free and fair but marred by many irregularities. The former Vice President, therefore, said that he would challenge the outcome in court. Atiku, in a statement he personally signed early on Wednesday morning, said, “If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South. Read more
Abdulrazaq to repeal law granting pensions to ex-governors, deputies (Nation)
Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday promised to repeal the law granting pensions to former governors and their deputies. This according to him would free up resources for the masses if elected into office. He urged the people to vote for him and all the APC candidates for the House of Assembly in the March 9 elections in Kwara. “We need to change some terrible laws. We’ll repeal that obnoxious pension law when we get to office,” AbdulRazaq said during his campaign stop at Omu Aran in Kwara South and again in Pategi in Kwara North. Read more
2019 presidential polls: Only 35% of voters voted —INEC (Punch)
Only 35 per cent of registered voters voted in the just concluded presidential elections, according to the data just released by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The percentage represents 28,614,190 people who cast their votes during the elections, representing 0.19 per cent less than the accredited voters, who made up a total of 35.66 per cent, that is 29,364, 209 of the total registered voters. Furthermore, the data showed that just 33.18 per cent, that is 27,324,583 of the 82,344,107 registered voters were the valid votes that informed the final decision. Read more
APC condemns Dickson’s attempts to discredit poll (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has condemned efforts of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, to discredit results of elections in some wards in Southern Ijaw and Nembe local government areas of the state. The party dismissed as groundless Dickson’s statement against votes garnered in the state by President Muhammadu Buhari and APC candidates. The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secrtary, Doifie Buokoribo, also rejected an attempt by Dickson to equate himself with Bayelsa by claiming the state condemned votes polled by APC. Read more
Ninth National Assembly to get 15 ex-govs as senators (Punch)
No fewer than 15 ex-governors will be in the ninth Senate, which will commence in June. Some of the senators-elect are incumbent governors, while others are former governors. Based on the results of Saturday’s senatorial election released across the country, they include two ex-governors of Abia State, Orji Kalu (Abia North) and his successor, Theodore Orji (Abia Central). In Borno State, the incumbent Governor, Kashim Shettima, has won the senatorial poll for the state’s central district. Read more
Ohanaeze congratulates Buhari (Nation)
Igbo apex sociocultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for emerging the winner of the last Saturday’s presidential election. The secretary general of the organization, Uche Okwukwu while addressing a press conference Thursday in Enugu said Buhari’s victory was well deserved. Okwukwu who was with a chieftain of Ohanaeze, Prince Richard Ozobu insisted that the said endorsement of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was not the decision of Ndigbo as there was no general meeting in that regard. Read more
No date for 2019 UTME yet, says JAMB (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says it has registered over 1.8 million candidates for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The Head, Media and Information of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos. NAN reports that registration of candidates for the Computer Based Test commenced on February 10 and terminated on February 21. Read more
Running an inclusive govt will boost capital market, economist tells Buhari (Punch)
An Economist, Mr. Boniface Okesie, has said that inaugurating an inclusive government will expedite a rebound of the capital market. Okesie, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday. The Economist said that inaugurating an all-inclusive government would douse the acrimony in the country and lead to harmony. “Only an entrenched peace is what will lure investors into the equities market and make it vibrant again as the market fundamental is good and means for making amazing returns if peace is entrenched,’’ he said. Read more
25-year-old sues father for not allowing her marry lover (Punch)
A 25-year-old woman, Rose Bulus, on Thursday dragged her father, Josiah, to a Shari’a Court sitting in Magajin Gari, Kaduna State for refusing to allow her to marry a man she loves. The complainant, who lives in Kaduna Central Area, told the court that she converted to Islam, to marry the man she chose but her father refused. “I want the court to compel my father to allow me to marry the man I love and if he refuses, the court should do the needful’’, she prayed. Read more
Pakistan ‘to free Indian pilot on Friday’ (BBC)
Pakistan will release a captured Indian pilot as a “peace gesture” on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said. Mr Khan revealed the decision in parliament, saying that Pakistan was focused on de-escalation. India’s military welcomed the Pakistani move. Pakistan shot down the pilot’s jet on Wednesday, as tensions rose with India over the disputed region of Kashmir. The capture of Abhinandan Varthaman was a major setback for India. Both sides are under pressure to calm tensions. Read more
George Eustice quits over Brexit delay to be free to criticise Government (Metro)
Junior agriculture minister George Eustice has resigned from the government, telling Theresa May it is because of her decision to put a possible delay on Brexit. He said he wants to be ‘free to participate in the critical debate that will take place in the weeks ahead’ on leaving the European Union. ‘I have decided to resign from the government following the decision this week to allow the postponement of our exit from the EU,’ Eustice said in a letter to the Prime Minister. Read more
Thousands of kids in England involved in gangs —Report (Punch)
Around 27,000 children in England, some as young as 10, belong to ruthless gangs, an in-depth study by the Children’s Commissioner revealed on Thursday. Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, published her study as she hosted a summit on Thursday bringing together police and crime commissioners, senior police officers and chairs of local safeguarding boards. The report, “Keeping Kids Safe: Improving Safeguarding Responses to Gang Violence and Criminal Exploitation’’, estimates that only a fraction of child gang-members are known to children’s services. Read more
Ahmed Musa congratulates Buhari (Nation)
Ahmed Musa has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election. On Wednesday morning, the 76-year-old politician was declared the winner of the February 23 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] after defeating his closest rival Atiku Abubakar. Buhari of All Progressives Congress polled 15,191,847 votes while Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party garnered 11,262,978 votes. Following the victory, the Super Eagles’ and Al Nassr forward has taken to the social media to felicitate with the President. Read more
No Kane punishment over clash (BBC)
Tottenham striker Harry Kane will not face any punishment following an incident with Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta on Wednesday. England captain Kane, 25, appeared to move his head towards the Spaniard in an incident during Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge. Kane was not punished at the time and, as the incident was seen by officials, no further action will be taken. Tottenham host Arsenal in the north London derby on Saturday. The incident took place after Chelsea kicked the ball out of play to allow Spurs’ Kieran Trippier to receive treatment. Read more
‘We can do better’, says Guardiola as City stay in title hunt (Guardian)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola accepted his side “can be better” after a 1-0 win over West Ham at the Etihad on Wednesday kept them in the hunt to retain their Premier League title and a remarkable quadruple of trophies. Just days after a penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea at Wembley saw City to victory in the League Cup final, Guardiola’s men were indebted to a 59th-minute spot-kick from Sergio Aguero for a victory that left the English champions a point behind leaders Liverpool. Read more
Puma takes over from Nike as Manchester City kit supplier (Punch)
Puma has signed a long-term strategic partnership with English Premier League champions, Manchester City, taking over from Nike, as it seeks to make up for the loss of Arsenal to German rival, Adidas, the sportswear company said on Thursday. British media have reported the deal could be worth 50 million pounds a year, more than double what Nike was paying, making it the third biggest in English soccer, behind Adidas’s sponsorship of Manchester United and Nike’s partnership with Chelsea. Read more
Haye warns Joshua on Miller fight (Nation)
David Haye has warned Anthony Joshua not to be ruled by emotion when he fights Jarrell Miller on June 1. The ex-heavyweight champ publicly gave the advice to the current king after he trash- talked his opponent at two heated press conferences over the past week. Writing in his Betfair column, Haye said: “The odds might be short on another AJ win against Jarrell Miller, but don’t underestimate his opponent. Trust me, there is always danger in the heavyweight division. Read more