The Benue State governorship Collation/Returning Officer, Mr. Sabastine Maimako on Sunday declared the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Samuel Ortom, as the winner of the March 9 governorship election.
 
He said Ortom, who is the incumbent governor, polled 434,473 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, candidate of the All Progressives Congress who scored 345,155 votes.
 
He said that Ortom, “having polled the highest number of votes at this election, is hereby declared winner.”
 
Maimako said the total registered votes were 2,471,894, total accredited voters were 858,947, while total valid votes stood at 830,954.
 
He sad total rejected votes were 15,268, while the margin of lead between the winner and his closest rival was 89,318 votes.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folasade, wanted for failing to appear in court to answer for the N13 billion money laundering charges against them.
 
Oke and his wife had reportedly travelled out of the country for medical treatment in late January shortly before they were to be arraigned in court.
 
Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of a Federal High Court Lagos, had on February 7, 2019, issued an arrest warrant against the couple following an oral application by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo.
 
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade.
 
Oke and his wife are wanted in connection with the $43 million, £27,800 and N23.8 m cash recovered by the commission from an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April 2017.
 
Under the former DG, the NIA was said to have collected $289,202,382 in cash for special operations from the account of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2015.
 
The agency had claimed that the funds were meant for covert intelligence operations, but the Federal Government insisted it was a case of looting.
 
The FG subsequently set up a three-man panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo which indicted Oke and recommended his dismissal. Criminal charges were subsequently filed against him and his wife in February this year over the cash found at the Ikoyi apartment.

Former aide and PDP popular ranting machine, Reno Omokri replies massive backside woman who invited him for lunch in her city in Holland.
 
He wrote: 
 
"Dear @Iyke83012262, 


Whether it is food eaten on the table or elsewhere, I have enough food in my own home. Thank you very much. Even if I had wanted to mingle with my fans, your profile picture speaks volumes. It radiates something that I have no desire to have outside my home."
 
 
His response has gone viral on social media with many making jokes out of it.

Thugs working for politicians yesterday prevented many registered voters from voting in the rerun election that held in the state. The armed thugs allegedly took over polling units, turning back supporters or agents of opponents.
 
Rerun election was slated in polling units spread across 28 local government areas in the state after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the March 3 governorship election held in the state inconclusive.
 
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, was leading in the inconclusive election with a margin of over 26,000 votes after polling 1,014,477 votes, while Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 987,810 votes.
 
Over 120,000 voters were to participate in the rescheduled poll yesterday. There were reports of incidences where hoodlums took over some polling units, preventing registered voters from exercising their civic rights.
 
Our correspondents observed that in Gama ward of Nasarawa Local Government, which has over 40,000 voters, thousands of weapon-carrying hoodlums, majority of them wearing the APC agents’ tag, took over the polling units, forcing the PDP supporters into hiding.
 
A resident, Ya’u Alhaji Gama, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the hoodlums that took over the streets were brought in to intimidate residents. “I swear to God, all these people you are seeing are not from this area, they are only here to cause mayhem,” he said.
 
Reports from the state on the eve of the election quoted residents as saying that thugs were being brought into the state in droves by politicians planning to use them to rig the poll.
 
Residents of Gama claimed they saw strange faces in the area from the time of morning prayer. They said the strangers later took over the polling units in Gama, brandishing weapons and unleashing terror.
 
“It is not possible to identify yourself as a PDP member here, not to talk of an agent. You can’t hang any PDP tag here,” a Gama resident said.
 
Pressmen were not spared the harassment as thugs attempted to lynch journalists under the umbrella of state’s Correspondent Chapel who were at Suntulma Primary School polling unit, Gama ward, to cover the exercise.
 
A correspondent of The Authority newspaper, Mr Madu-Jerry Buchi, was rescued by security personnel after the hoodlums threatened to attack him for taking pictures.
 
At Masaka polling unit in Dala Local Government Area, three people were reportedly injured in a clash involving supporters of the ruling party and the opposition PDP.
 
It was gathered that voting was made impossible for supporters of the opposition PDP as armed thugs harassed anyone showing sympathy for the party.
 
A PDP supporter who insisted on voting for the party, Dahiru Sa’ad, was attacked causing him to lose two teeth.
 
Policemen present at the polling unit did nothing to save the situation. A police officer, who declined to give his name, told our correspondents that they could not interfere because they were not carrying arms.
 
At Nahadatu polling unit in Gwammaja ward, there were fears of a likely clash due to massive infiltration of hired thugs into the voting point.
 
At Takai Local Government Area, there were reports of the presence of heavily armed political thugs who disrupted the election in favour of the ruling party.
 
An observer who identified himself as Dr Babaye Liman said he saw over 500 armed thugs snatching ballot boxes as well as ballot papers.
 
The situation was the same at Minjibir, where voters complained of intimidation from unknown thugs who came into the town from other places.
 
Thugs attack 2 commissioners
 
However, the commissioners for information and finance in the state, Malam Muhammad Garba and Alhaji Aminu Dan-Amu, allegedly came under attack by thugs suspected to be supporters of the PDP.
 
The suspected thugs allegedly molested the information commissioner at Yalwa polling unit in Dala Local Government and smashed his vehicle’s windscreen.
 
His counterpart of the finance ministry, Dan-Amu, was allegedly attacked at Dogon-Nama polling unit in the same Dala Local Government.
 
Also said to have been attacked was APC’s elder, Alhaji Liti Kul-Kul, who was trailed to his family house and assaulted.
 
Confirming the incident, the information commissioner said: “I was personally attacked by PDP thugs at Yalwa polling unit and the windscreen of my car was smashed.
 
“I am sure the attack emanated from the pronouncement of the Kwankwasiyya leader, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who said all PDP members are agents and security men.


“This is the danger of such statements, especially by leaders. We have Kwankwaso on tape urging his supporters to be agents and security men at polling units. This is wrong and unacceptable,” he said.
 
The PDP, however, dissociated its members from the attack on the two commissioners and the APC elder.
 
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, Alhaji Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the spokesperson of the PDP gubernatorial candidate said their supporters were peace- loving people; hence they could not attack anybody.
 
“We only came out during the rerun election to protect ballot boxes and ensure that each vote counts. Our people did not attack anybody during the election. We neither attacked any commissioner nor identified anybody as target for attack during the election. We are peace-loving citizens,” he said.
 
Cancel Kano rerun poll – PDP
 
Meanwhile, the PDP has called for the immediate cancellation of the resrun election in the state. In a press briefing, the acting chairman of the party in Kano, Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, described the exercise as a charade, saying, “What we have in Kano is nothing but sham.”
 
The chairman accused the APC of mobilising thugs to take over all the 280 polling units in the state.
 
“As I address you now, we have reports that some of our agents have been killed, vehicles burnt, property destroyed in Doguwa, Nasarawa, Minjibir, Dala and Tudun Wada local government areas. These, with other infractions, made us to completely lose faith in the whole exercise, and therefore, call on the INEC to cancel these elections,” Bichi said.
 
The PDP headquarters also called for the cancelation of the supplementary election over what it termed the disruption of polls and bloodletting.
 
In a statement yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said all material facts on the rerun poll in the state showed that “rampaging APC thugs violently took over polling units, attacked and chased away voters and engaged in massive thumb-printing and ballot stuffing.


“The INEC is already aware that the police arrested the Kano State commissioner for special duties, Muktar Yakasai, alongside APC thugs he led to disrupt election in Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of the state.


“Also, the INEC is already aware of how APC thugs attacked voters in polling units in Gama area, during which four PDP members were feared killed and many more injured before they carted away ballot boxes for stuffing for the APC.


“The PDP cautions the INEC to note that in this circumstance, any result they come out with from this convoluted electoral process will be a sham and will surely be rejected by the people of Kano State.


“It is completely reprehensible that the APC and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje would resort to violence and bloodletting as a means to attempt to hold on to power after they have been rejected by the people.


“The PDP, therefore, charges the INEC to save the nation from crisis by cancelling the Kano supplementary election, as failure to do so is not in the best interest of our dear nation,” the PDP stated.
 
Kano rerun peaceful – Police 
 
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Micheal Anthony Obizi, has described Kano rerun election as peaceful.
 
Obizi, who was deployed to Kano for the purpose of the rerun poll, said the election recorded minor violence.
 
He explained that the reports on various social media platforms were purported by some elements in order to cause chaos in the state.
 
“We have arrested only 10 people for various election offences and they will be charged to court as soon as we finish investigation. So, as far as police are concerned, the election is peaceful,” he said.
 
He said there was no report of death from the affected 24 local governments where the rerun election was conducted.
 
On the alleged taking over of the some polling units by thugs, Obizi said: “If it is true that some thugs took over some polling units, how did INEC find its way to bring election materials and officials to the polling units?”
 
The DIG assured that police would maintain its ground in protecting the lives and property of the Nigerian citizens.
 
He said there was no cause for alarm as far as security was concerned, adding that everything was going smoothly.
 
Similarly, a coalition of foreign and domestic election observers has described the just concluded rerun election in Kano State as peaceful.
 
Addressing a press conference, leader of the coalition, Chinyere Manukwem, said even though there were violence at few polling units in Dala and Gama, the rerun poll was generally peaceful.
 
Manukwem also expressed satisfaction with the level of security arrangement during the poll.
 
The Kano State police command has confirmed the arrest of 74 suspected political thugs over various election offences.
 
Confirming the arrest, the police public relations officer in the state, DSP Haruna Abdullahi, said the suspects were arrested at various polling units where the rerun election held. He said the thugs were arrested for ballot box snatching, unlawful possession of Parmanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and public disturbance, among other offences.
 
Abdullahi said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as police finished investigation.
 
Sokoto
 
In Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal relocated to Kuchi town in Kebbe Local Government Area for the supplementary election.
 
Kuchi, which has the highest number of cancelled votes in the last governorship election in the state, is one of the areas where the rerun election took place.
 
The governor was said to have relocated to the area in the early hours of Saturday.
 
There was massive deployment of security forces in the area, our correspondent reported.
 
It was a herculean task controlling crowd in some polling units that witnessed massive turnout of voters for the election in Sokoto metropolis.
 
There was chaos at Rijiyar Danfarijo Magajin Gari ‘B’ ward 009 in Sokoto North Local Government Area following an alleged display of thumb-printed ballot papers by PDP stalwarts, which was opposed by APC supporters.
 
Police had to fire teargas to restore order.
 
Plateau
 
In Jos, the capital of Plateau State, there was rowdiness and a short altercation between security agents and youths at polling unit 027, Unguwan Abuja, Tudun Wada II in Jos North Local Government Area when mobile police officers attempted to disperse youths from the voting area.
 
Our correspondent, who was at the polling unit, observed that the youths insisted that they were, by law, allowed to wait till the end of collation as long as they were orderly. The polling unit had 1,297 registered voters.
 
 
Source: DailyTrust

Osun state Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, has reiterated his commitment to the development of the state, saying nothing will deter him from providing dividends of democracy to every nooks and crannies of the state.

Oyetola stated this while addressing members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the Chairman of the party , Prince Gboyega Famodun who came to solidarise with the governor following yesterday’s verdict given by election petition tribunal.

The tribunal had on Friday declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the September 22, 2018 governorship election.

Governor Oyetola who was very happy for the solidarity visit by the members of the party said they have no reason to panic .

He described the judgement of the tribunal as a ‘split judgment of two to one’, saying with God by his side he would become victorious.

“I want to appeal to our people to remain calm with the judgement of the Tribunal.

“I want to appreciate you for identifying with me over yesterday (friday) verdict. Well, it was a split judgement of two to one and it’s not unanimous.

“There is a dissenting judgment, the Chairman of the tribunal disagreed on the issues on noncompliance and the nullification of the rerun.

“We urge our people to remain calm and be steadfast in prayers. By the Grace of God, the verdict of the Appeal Court will vindicate us.

“Our people should have faith in God, and believe that nothing has actually changed. We are appealing against the tribunal judgement and by the grace of God, we will come victorious. I want you to believe that God has actually ordained this government.

“God has ordained this government, to the service of our people, and nothing will actually change that, you need to go about your business. The governor remain the governor and nothing has changed that, we are in the government and we will continue to go on.

“You should start enlightening people who are ignorant of the judgment that, there is nothing to worry about, I remain the governor of the state of Osun.

“I thank you all for solidarising with me, your party’s government will remain the best and am urging the security agencies to be at alert and maintain peace and order.

 
With elections over and the 9th Assembly set for inauguration in June, the race for the leadership of the House of Representatives is hotting-up.

Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the six lawmakers, who have so far dropped hints to seek Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s job. They are all from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

These include Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos), Idris Wase (Plateau), Umar Bargo (Niger), Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa), and Mohammed Kazaure (Jigawa).

Geopolitically, they are spread across South West, North Central, North East, and North West.

This is understandable since the APC already commands undisputable numerical superiority of 211 members as against 111 slots won by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The House of Representatives is made up of 360 members.

Addressing newsmen last week, Gbajabiamila disclosed that the decision on who becomes the next Speaker rests with the APC and the lawmakers themselves.

In fact, a ranking lawmaker informed Daily Trust Saturday that “in selecting the presiding officers of the 9th Assembly, the APC would not allow a repeat of the mistakes of 2015.”

He said, “We cannot allow members of the opposition parties or those loyal to them, to hijack the leadership of the National Assembly.”

As political groups and caucuses align for common fronts in the epic leadership contest in the 9th Assembly, North Central APC lawmakers in the House requested that the speakership slot be ceded to the zone.

According to the lawmakers, allowing the North Central to produce the Speaker of 9th House would engender the spirit of “equity, fairness, geopolitical balance and federal character.”

That notwithstanding, the contenders have intensified lobby and leg walks to land the topmost job in the nation’s lower legislative chamber.

Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos)

Of all the contenders for the speakership position, Gbaja, as he is popularly known, is perhaps the most visible and consistent.

The ranking lawmaker who just clinched his fifth-term also has many things going for him in the contest for the Number 4 position.

Gbaja is the current House Leader, and before Dogara emerged as Speaker in 2015, he was APC’s choice for the position.

Most importantly, he is from the South West as well as the only major contender from Southern Nigeria who has indicated interest in the position.

Should the APC decide to cede the position to the South, Gbaja stands a prominent place to clinch it.

It is also believed that it will be a smooth sail for the Lagos-born lawyer given his legislative pedigree and good rapport with other lawmakers.

Apart from ranking and zoning, party loyalty and consistency as a vocal voice of the APC, especially during the heyday of the turbulent 8th House, may also count for him.

However, a certain school of thought believes that since the country’s Number 2 citizen, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is from the South West, the APC might decide to give another zone the speakership slot.

According to them, if Osinbajo’s factor were to influence the party’s zoning arrangement, then Gbaja might not stand a chance.

Ahmed Wase (APC, Plateau)

The 55-year-old lawmaker, representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State, is also a strong contender for the Speaker of the 9th House.

Wase was first elected into the green chamber in 2007, and has been re-elected in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Before his elevation as House Deputy Leader in 2018, Wase was the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character.

He is believed to command a large followership among influential lawmakers in the 8th House, which could serve him well as the campaign for the position unfolds.

Besides, he is articulate with a political connection that transcends the ruling APC.

Umar Bago (APC, Niger)

Just like Wase, Umar Bago, is another speakership contender from the North Central.

The 45-year-old Bago, representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency of Niger State, was first elected into the House in 2011.

Having just won a third term, Bargo could be considered a ranking member of the House.

The former bank manager also has age on his side, which is a remarkable asset, especially in the midst of a Not-Too-Young-To-Run mantra.

The Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety equally enjoys the goodwill of incumbent Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

Having thrown his weight behind Dogara in 2015, political watchers say it is a pay-back time, especially if Dogara ultimately dumps his bid for re-election.

But being from the North Central, he already has another strong contender.

Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno)

Monguno, 52, who represents Jere Federal Constituency of Borno State, has also indicated interest to become the Speaker of the 9th House.

The Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production Services, is perhaps the most ranking contender from the North East Zone.

Dogara from Bauchi currently occupies the Number 4 position, and should the APC decide to allow the North East retain the seat, Monguno stands a good chance.

He also ran alongside Gbajabiamila in 2015, and would have been Deputy Speaker if the party’s initial zoning arrangement was adhered to.

His advocates also point to his dedication to legislative activities especially key committee assignments.

As a ranking member first elected into the House in 2007, Monguno also commands the respect and loyalty of many lawmakers, including those from other regions.

As it stands now, his chances depend on what becomes of the party’s zoning formula.

Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa)

Namdas, 50, who represents Jada/Ganye/Toungo Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, is the current spokesman of the 8th House.

Although he is yet to publicly unveil his ambition, indications are that he is in the race for the top job in the green chamber.

First elected into the House in 2015, Namdas is no doubt an influential member of the 8th House, especially given his erudition and intellectual disposition.

As the image-maker of the 8th House, Namdas is also popular and well-loved by his colleagues.

But those laudable qualities might not be enough to land the graduate of University of Jos the plum job, even if it is eventually ceded to the North East.

The argument is that there more ranking, perhaps more qualified members, from the zone who are also in the speakership race. Ultimately, that depends on APC’s zoning arrangement.

Mohammed Kazaure (APC, Jigawa)

The 46-year-old lawmaker, who represents Kazaure/Roni Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, is also interested in becoming the Speaker of 9th House.

In his usual humorous manners, he informed Daily Trust Saturday that his main aim of seeking the job is to smoothen and fast-track President Muhamamdu Buhari’s policies and programmes in the National Assembly.

“If I become the Speaker, whatever Mr. President sends to the House will be passed. I will just strike the gavel and that is it, no debate or unnecessary argument,” the lawmaker, who is also Buhari’s staunch fan, said.

But it is highly unlikely that he will contest, or that he will win even if he contests, especially as he is from the same North West Zone as President Buhari.
 
Source: DAILY TRUST

Fellow Nigerians, please don’t get it wrong, I’m not a Judge and I’m not about to deliver a judgment in favour of the ‘suspended’ Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
 
I lack such capacity and jurisdiction. Besides, as the lawyers say, the matter is ‘sub judice’ i.e. under judicial consideration and therefore not meant for public discourse or discussion anywhere else other than the Court. What I’m doing here is to reiterate my initial reaction to the kangarooistic justice manner he was harassed, terrorised, convicted in the media, ahead of trial. My sympathy for Chief Justice Onnoghen didn’t stem out of his status as a very important personality BUT AS A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRINCIPLE that no Nigerian, regardless of tribe, gender, creed or social status, should suffer unnecessary humiliation and degradation in the hands of gods with feet of clay.
 
Anyone who has followed me over time would have seen the way I defend the rights of man, whether you are my friend or not, as long as the victim in question believes in, and follows, the rule of Law. A good example that readily comes into mind is that of the then Vice President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in 2010, who was disallowed by the so-called cabal from assuming power as Acting President, in the absence of his boss who was apparently incapacitated in Saudi Arabia. 
 
Some of us took the risk of protesting and demonstrating in Abuja and were confronted by some tough anti-riot police officers. I was neither a member of PDP nor a friend of Dr Jonathan at the time. No one waited for, or wanted, a thank you gratification from him. We just did what needed to be done because we believed that his was a just cause and our constitution and democracy was being trampled upon by fleeting soldiers of fortune.
 
 
When it was the turn of the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, we raised objections to the manner he suddenly became a “demon” just because he fell out of favour with the powers that be. This act of vindictiveness has been the tragic pattern and trend since the coming of this trouble-prone Republic. There were suggestions, from those who should know better, that Dr Saraki should resign and abdicate responsibility while proving his innocence at the courts. No one considered the fact that this may have been the main strategy of his enemies in the first instance. 
 
Their usual refrain was always about “how if this was in Europe or America, the Senate President would have voluntarily resigned. The Nigerian situation is always a case of man’s inhumanity to man. Whenever it happens, there are always more than enough people ever willing to castigate, prosecute and convict the hapless victim without trial, especially in the media. The problem with such a position is that this is not Europe or America. In Europe or America investigating and prosecution authorities are careful about the kind of information they disseminate to the public. They usually refer to a man or woman being under investigation and reveal very little of the evidence against such person, preferring to leave that to the latter stages of the investigation and prosecution. In Nigeria, the investigating and prosecuting authorities immediately rush to the public domain. 
 
They hang what sometimes later turns out to be their dirty laundry in full view of the public. The public feast on it in a state of frenzy because they have been pauperised and impoverished by varying governments and they see a ready victim to blame for their woes. Little do they realise that it is all a mirage and charade and they have been fed foul meat that will result in stomach churning double somersaults. Worse still, the investigators and prosecutors may end up with egg splattered all over their faces as their gung-ho approach to maligning and impugning people without any regard to the sanctity and sacredness of the principle of fair hearing and the pursuit of justice.
 
What I find most disturbing is that neither investigator nor, worse still, prosecutor ever bothers to do their due diligence well. Once they pick on a scapegoat, they rush out all manner of distortions and incongruous information. 
 
They pick on the most incoherent witnesses, procured under duress, or pecuniary promises. Such was the case of Dr Saraki. The melodrama was nauseating. Yet, they had many people who acted as chorus singers and amplified the lies to all corner of the world. You sometimes wonder, why are we so mean to ourselves? Why do we want to waste and destroy all the gains of democracy many died for in the past. Had Saraki resigned, he would have fallen for the dastardly ploy of politically assailants, akin to hired assassins of character, to get rid of him. When that failed, other darts were fired in his direction. He was practically accused of being a part of an armed robbery gang that callously wasted so many lives in one fell swoop. The denouement of this whole debacle and theatre of the absurd is gradually playing out in the Courts, before our very eyes. It is taking God’s intervention to save Saraki from being totally obliterated and annihilated in the process. 
 
After that, some heavily hooded and menacing security personnel invaded the precincts of the National Assembly, like hooded outlaws reminiscent of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. The only difference was that these were not outlaws, but men sworn to protect the sanctity of the very institution that they were desecrating with their disloyal presence. The military’s oath is to defend the people, the country and its institutions and not any individual, particularly if that individual is acting against the interests of the country and its institutions. Fortunately, the Vice President in his characteristic forceful and no-nonsense manner when he has been in charge put an end to that madness and ensured that democratic institutions continued to be respected.
 
This was the same template that was put in place for the Chief Justice. As obvious as the act was, many still fell for the scam. The timing was patently wrong, too close to the general elections. The modus operandi was ghoulish. Someone hurriedly put together a scurrilous petition in which we were regaled with tales by moonlight of a stupendously wealthy Chief Justice of the Federation who must have been criminally guilty of ‘moonlighting’! The denial of any involvement by the administration in this hurriedly concocted travesty, suddenly turned into a wholesale approbation of the means, ways and methods used to catch the ‘thief’. All known principles of justice and morals were soon sacrificed at the altar of expediency, even though the government should have been briefed, by various arms of the security agencies, that most of the baseless allegations had not been verified or investigated.
 
A whole Chief Justice of the Federation looked so dejected, rejected and pathetic. He was treated like a petty thief, a common criminal. He was unable to properly articulate his defence as he had already been convicted in the court of public opinion based on the frivolous and desperate evidence dished out by his traducers. His office was stolen from him in a brazen and total disregard for the constitution and its safeguard to check the excesses of government and abuse of power by one arm of government. The CJN was even brought before his peers and other members of the National Judicial Council (NJC) like a useless felon. Many legal giants sprang stoutly into action on his behalf. All kinds of legal and constitutional theories were propounded, and different stratagem employed. Some other lawyers rose up in support of the government, saying we need to fight corruption to standstill. Why not? But not at the expense of freedom and liberty. I have always said and maintained that we should never set fire to an entire village in order to catch rats. Even if government has incontrovertible evidence against Onnoghen, our Justice system needs to learn and imbibe some decorum. The sum total of all this drama was that the law, and its chief defender and upholder, were beginning to look like the proverbial ass!
 
I could therefore not believe my eyes when the climax to all of this tragic dramedy played out at the Code of Conduct Tribunal proceedings of the past week. There six prosecution witnesses, but it seems that after hearing the damaging evidence of the previous three, the prosecution could not go an any longer as their case appeared to be in tatters. Witness after witness burst the bubble that had been the prosecution’s case in the media. There were not 55 houses, but 5. I guess somebody had mistakenly typed 5 twice and it stuck. After all, as another witness stated none of the facts contained in Onnoghen’s asset declaration form had been verified. To further compound matters the Court was told that all his so-called foreign accounts were local domicillary accounts. Worse was to be exposed before the Tribunal as it was revealed that there was not $3,000,000 in the totality of his accounts, but less than $300,000 even at the most optimistic position of taking opening balances in January 2018 into account. Indeed, he had taken a loan of $500,000 which was collateralised by his investments in Federal Government Bonds and diverse stock. A patriot indeed. Recall that in the bid to shore up what must have been known to be a very bad case, investigators had rushed to Onnoghen’s farm and carted away several allegedly ‘incriminating’ documents and equipment.
 
The Defence on behalf of Onnoghen has applied to file a no-case submission. The Prosecution naturally has a right to reply to it. Without attempting to preempt the court and being conscious of the delicate fine balance of necessary to be observed once a matter is sub judice, I believe it is pertinent to note that in other countries both developing and developed, the prosecutor, knowing that his role is to do justice, present the facts to the court, and not merely seek a conviction, would have thrown in the towel. I wait to see what this prosecutor will do. More importantly, I wait to see whether the government will offer Onnoghen the profound and sincere apology that he deserves if he is discharged by the CCT.
 
We seem to be in a season of politics and litigations and it was a double whammy this week. It is with no surprise at all to me that I learnt of the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP at the Governorship Election Tribunal for Osun State albeit by a majority decision of two to one with the Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Ibrahim Sirajo dissenting. That election, particularly what has now been held to be the illegal rerun election, was fraught with irregularities, malpractices and voter intimidation by the ruling Party, APC and some elements of the military. When INEC chose not to call any evidence to rebut the allegations of the PDP about these matters, I knew the game was almost up. The whole pack of cards finally collapsed when the submissions of the APC lawyers was not the loud bang that we expected, but nothing more than a whimper.
 
Senator Adeleke’s victory appears to be a victory for democracy and a vindication for all lovers of democracy who put their faith in the judiciary as the last bastion of the common man. It is also to the credit of the government of President Buhari that it has chosen not to interfere at all in what was happening at the election Tribunal. Some people felt that the government would have used its power and influence to seek to re-write the verdict. Kudos to the government on this score.
 
What happens next demonstrates the fact that it is not yet Uhuru for Senator Adeleke. He cannot claim the mandate as his despite the powerful pronouncement of the Tribunal. APC has already appealed to the Court of Appeal, as it is its legitimate right to do. Whichever of the parties wins at the Court of Appeal, it is clear that the other losing party will appeal to the Supreme Court. The practice up till now is that until the Supreme Court gives its verdict the person declared to be the winner by INEC will continue in office. Senator Adeleke may therefore have a little longer to claim the mandate which he says was stolen from him.
 
I congratulate, my dear friend, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for his victory in the first leg of this three-legged race. I wish him the very best as he faces the next challenge of persuading the Appellate Courts to uphold his victory. Time and the Supreme Court will ultimately tell who the spoils of victory will go to.
For now, the lesson to be learnt, which is pertinent to remember, as we go into the rerun and supplementary elections today, is that there is no profit in all these anti-democratic acts that our politicians are wont to resort to because democracy and justice will ultimately triumph.
 
Written by foremost columnist, Dele Momodu

President Idriss Deby of Chad has fired his armed forces chief of staff following a Boko Haram attack that left 23 soldiers dead. 
 
Deby fired Brahim Seid Mahamat and his two deputies by presidential decree after six years in the post, Friday night, just hours after the attack.
 
The soldiers were killed after coming under attack from jihadists in the early hours of Friday morning in the deadliest attack on the Chadian military by Boko Haram.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has confirmed the attack on the commission’s convoy on Gboko-Makurdi Road by unknown gunmen on Saturday night.

Yilwatda told journalists in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi, that the Returning Officer for the governorship supplementary polls in Gboko, Prof. Comfort Tuleun, was hit by a bullet during the attack.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has confirmed the attack on the commission’s convoy on Gboko-Makurdi Road by unknown gunmen on Saturday night.

Yilwatda told journalists in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi, that the Returning Officer for the governorship supplementary polls in Gboko, Prof. Comfort Tuleun, was hit by a bullet during the attack.

“At about 8:30pm today (Saturday), an attack was launched on a convoy of INEC personnel returning to Makurdi Collation Centre from Gboko LGA after the close of the governorship and state Assembly supplementary polls by unknown gunmen.

“In the course of the attack on the convoy that included INEC’s permanent and ad hoc staff, as well as security agencies at Tarka LGA, Prof. Comfort Tuleun, the Gboko LGA Collation Officer for the governorship election, was hit by bullets and she is currently receiving treatment.

“The wounded collation officer is from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

“INEC regrets this unfortunate incident and calls on security agencies to work tirelessly to apprehend these miscreants and bring them to judgment.

“Meanwhile, as a result of this incident, the commission has no choice but to appoint Dr. Joseph Mom of FUAM to replace the wounded official.”

(NAN)

 
The police in Anambra State have arrested a woman, Tochukwu Azotani, and her friend, Ogochukwu Nwankwo, who allegedly stripped and flogged a woman they said was her husband’s mistress.

The police also alleged that the suspects recorded the incident and circulated it on the internet.

The police also arrested the husband, Ifeanyi Azotani, who they said invited the victim, Ogochukwu Okafor, to his house.

The video which appeared on various social media platforms a few days ago has since gone viral.

In the video, the stripped woman was being flogged by the friend of the wife in the bathroom of the house, while the wife recorded the assault.
 
The husband could not be seen in the video.

Later, the woman was pushed out of the house still naked into the compound of the house. As she ran, the friend of the wife wearing a yellow top continued to flog her and the wife continued recording.

In another video, she was seen tying a wrapper allegedly given to her by a sympathiser to cover her nakedness, while the said friend of the wife continued to assault her.

A man believed to be a sympathiser was seen pleading with her attackers to stop the assault.

In a statement on Saturday, police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said three suspects have been arrested over the assault.

They are the wife, her friend and her husband.

According to the spokesperson, the victim reported the matter to the Central Police Station, Awka.

In her statement, she claimed that on March 19 at about 11:36 a.m, she was invited by her male Facebook friend, Ifeanyi Azotani, to his house at Ezimezi village in Amawbia.

“All of a sudden a woman who claimed to be his wife, Azotani Tochukwu, appeared in the house with her friend, Ogochukwu Nwankwo, and locked her inside the bathroom for almost four hours and left.”

The police spokesperson said the women later came back with two big canes and opened the bathroom.

“However, while the suspect’s friend, one Ogochukwu Nwankwo, stripped her and flogged her severally, the principal suspect was busy videotaping the incident and thereafter pushed her out from the compound naked.”

Mr Mohammed further stated that the victim further alleged that Mrs Azotani called her on phone the following day and demanded N60,000 or they would post her nude video on the internet.

“Consequently, when the complainant refused to pay the money as requested, the principal suspect Azotani Tochukwu actualised her threat and posted the naked video to the internet and since then the video went viral”.

He said that the police have so far arrested Mr and Mrs Azotani and their friend over the incident.

“Case under investigation after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution”, added Mr Mohammed.

 

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scored the highest votes the Sokoto State governorship election after polling a total of 512,002 from both the March 9 first ballot and yesterday’s supplementary election.

Ahmad Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came close behind with 511,661, losing to his erstwhile principal with just 341votes.

Mr Aliyu was Mr Tambuwal’s deputy governor.

Both men were of the APC until Mr Tambuwal defected to the PDP.

The results of all the local governments where supplementary elections were held in Sokoto have now been announced at the state collation centre.
 
A final declaration by INEC that Mr Tambuwal has won the election is expected any minute from now.

See details of the results here.

More details to come.

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressive Congress (APC) the winner of the 2019 governorship election in Plateau State.

Richard Kimbir, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, made the declaration on Sunday at the state INEC headquarters after concluding the supplementary election held on Saturday.

Mr Lalong defeated Jeremiah Useni of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who came second in the election.

The Plateau governorship election was, on March 11, declared inconclusive by the state returning officer, Mr Kimbir, a professor. He said the margin between the two leading candidates was less than the number of votes cancelled in the entire election.

According to INEC, on March 11, Governor Lalong had scored 583,255 votes while Mr Useni scored 548,336 votes, highlighting that none of the leading candidates met all the requirements of the law to win the election.
 
49,347 votes across 40 polling units were cancelled in nine Local Government Areas of the state.

The affected LGAs where the rerun held include; Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos North, Kanam, Langtang South, Mangu, Pankshin, and Shendam.

Announcing the final election results scored by each party, the returning officer said Mr Lalong of the APC scored 595,582 votes while Mr Useni of the PDP scored 546,813.

“Simon Lalong of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” the returning said.

The margin between the winner and the runner-up is 48,769 votes.

The result of the election indicated that out of 17 LGAs of the state, Mr Lalong won in 11 while Mr Useni won in six.

Sunday’s final result marks the second time Mr Lalong is defeating the PDP in the state. In 2015, he defeated the late Gyang Pwajok of the PDP to become the first governor from opposition to win governorship election in the state.

PDP had governed the state for 16 years. Joshua Dariye, a senator who is currently in prison, had governed from 1999 to 2007 while Jonah Jang, governed from 2007 to 2015.

The result by LGAs is as follows:

Jos East
APC: 18, 602
PDP: 7, 994

Kanke
APC: 23, 360
PDP: 22, 831

Langtang North
APC: 18, 979
PDP: 40, 519

Barkin Ladi
APC: 17, 080
PDP: 44, 529

Bokkos
APC: 27, 561
PDP: 26 ,700

Bassa
APC: 30,441
PDP: 33,192

Langtang South
APC: 14,470
PDP: 18,868

Pankshin
APC: 36,215
PDP: 24,939

Mikang
APC: 15, 150
PDP: 11, 703

Kanam
APC: 55,338
PDP: 22,432

Jos South
APC: 33, 475
PDP: 91, 846

Jos North
APC: 109,161
PDP: 68,149

Wase
APC: 37, 593
PDP: 27, 485

Mangu
APC: 51, 895
PDP: 43,555

Riyom
APC: 12, 720
PDP: 24, 017

Qua’an Pan
APC: 31, 962
PDP: 20, 939

Shendam
APC: 61, 798
PDP: 17,115

Total number of votes scored by each of the two leading parties

APC – 595,582

PDP – 546,813

 
The Federal High court in Yenogoa, Bayelsa state yesterday March 22nd sentenced 42 year old Ogho-Oghene Stephen Akpata to death by hanging for stabbing his wife of just one month, Oyinye Faustina Eze, to death at their home in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa in August 2017.

Faustina and Stephen, a returnee from Australia, met in February 2017 when he came for his Sim card registration at her office.

Faustina who was previously working at the Bonny Island branch of Globacom, was transferred to Yenogoa and so she had to relocate. When they met, he asked her out and she accepted his proposal.

They got married in July after many times of him dodging to go see her parents and by August he had murdered her. She was about 4 months pregnant with their son.

Upon his arrest after the murder, Stephen alleged his wife was having an extramarital affair.

He has been in trial since and just yesterday, the court sentenced him to death by hanging.

 
 
Mavin Records boss, Michael Ajereh, popularly known by his stage name, Don Jazzy, has added a new artiste, Rema, to his imprint.

The new artiste is signed under Jonzing World, Mavin’s first-ever imprint record label.

Don Jazzy, who revealed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the development is a response to a growing demand for Nigerian music internationally.

The development comes on the heels of a recent announcement of a multimillion-dollar investment in Mavin Records by Kupanda Holdings a global private equity firm.

The new artiste, Rema, is an 18-year-old emerging artist, whose real name is Divine Ikubor. The singer was discovered by D’Prince, who is Don Jazzy’s biological brother.

Don Jazzy said Rema’s sound is unique and tilted towards Afrobeat, Trap, and Alternative music.

Speaking on his signing to Jonzing World, the energetic performer said, “It still feels like a dream. It is such a blessing for me to be chosen for something great, and given a platform as big as Mavin Global and a team as supportive as Jonzing World to enable me to achieve my career objectives in music. I am super excited about what the future holds.”

“Rema is a formidable young artist: with his skill and versatility, he has a unique place in the future of Afro beats. At the same time, we’re excited to launch our first imprint deal with Jonzing World. This model will expand the number of ways the Mavin platform can support artists and entrepreneurship in Africa to grow together, at home and internationally,” said Don Jazzy, Mavin Global President.

Don Jazzy also noted that strategic move was made possible by the label’s multi-million dollar partnership with Kupanda Holdings, which would help strengthen the label’s core operations across A&R, touring, marketing, distribution, publishing and partnerships.

Parents of Success, the little girl who was sent home over school fees in Delta, have narrated how they almost killed Success whose video now changed their lives.
 
Punch reported that Success’ father, Godwin Adegor, is a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as okada rider, while her mum sells recharge cards and raw eggs. They also have two other children – Gift and Marvelous – who are in Junior Secondary School.
 
The parents also recounted how they almost killed Success whose video now changed their lives. The girl's father said his wife once contemplated aborting her when she became pregnant,  and even took a poisonous substance to get rid of her.
 
“I knew she would be a great child. That was why I gave her the name Success. We received many favours on the day she was given birth to. Let me tell you a short story about Success. After our second child, my wife said she didn’t want to give birth to another child.“When she was pregnant with Success, she decided to drink ‘Angle 90’ (a poisonous substance). She said she wanted to die. I convinced her that rather than kill yourself, have the baby so that you could sell it for N500,000. But she said she wouldn’t sell her baby.


“On the day Success was born, somebody that had owed me N100,000 paid the debt. Money was just coming from different areas. As we were receiving the goodwill, I told my wife that if we had terminated the pregnancy, would these favours have come to us? It was because of the goodwill that has always followed her that made me named name Success.


“She has been receiving blessings from every corner since she was born. There was a day a soldier who stopped the vehicle that was taking them (our children) to see their grandmother at Kwale, gave her the bread he had bought for his family. The soldier said he liked the way my daughter was talking. Anywhere she goes, she always receives favour. She has won a scholarship before. The scholarship was given to her by a governor’s aide,” he said.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has confirmed the attack on the commission’s convoy on Gboko-Makurdi Road by unknown gunmen on Saturday night.

Yilwatda told journalists in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi, that the Returning Officer for the governorship supplementary polls in Gboko, Prof. Comfort Tuleun, was hit by a bullet during the attack.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has confirmed the attack on the commission’s convoy on Gboko-Makurdi Road by unknown gunmen on Saturday night.

Yilwatda told journalists in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi, that the Returning Officer for the governorship supplementary polls in Gboko, Prof. Comfort Tuleun, was hit by a bullet during the attack.

“At about 8:30pm today (Saturday), an attack was launched on a convoy of INEC personnel returning to Makurdi Collation Centre from Gboko LGA after the close of the governorship and state Assembly supplementary polls by unknown gunmen.

“In the course of the attack on the convoy that included INEC’s permanent and ad hoc staff, as well as security agencies at Tarka LGA, Prof. Comfort Tuleun, the Gboko LGA Collation Officer for the governorship election, was hit by bullets and she is currently receiving treatment.

“The wounded collation officer is from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

“INEC regrets this unfortunate incident and calls on security agencies to work tirelessly to apprehend these miscreants and bring them to judgment.

“Meanwhile, as a result of this incident, the commission has no choice but to appoint Dr. Joseph Mom of FUAM to replace the wounded official.”

(NAN)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it suspended supplementary election in Bayelsa State because of a court order.
 
The electoral commission had announced for March 23 for the supplementary elections in the three affected state constituencies namely Brass constituency 1, Ogbia constituency 2 and Southern Ijaw constituency IV.
 
According to him in Brass Constituency 1, supplementary election would hold in polling units 11 to 16, Ward 6 (Cape Formoso).
 
Ifogah said in Ogbia Constituency 11 elections would hold in 65 polling units which covers 19 polling units in Ward 2 (Otuokpti), 19 units Ward 3 (Ologi), 21 units in Ward 4 (Ayama) and six units in Ward 5(Okodi).
 
He stated that 53 polling units are affected in Southern Ijaw Constituency 4, which includes 34 polling units in Ward 16 (Ukubie) and 19 polling units in Ward 17 (Koluama).
 
However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Monday Udoh Tom explained the supplementary election in Brass Constituency 1 would be put on hold. According to him this is consequent an interlocutory order of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa in suit No FHC/YNG/2019 dated March 22
 
“As a law abiding agency, the Commission will inform stakeholders as soon as the court order is dispensed with on Brass Constituency 1,” he said.
 
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly candidate in Brass Constituency 1, Preye Brodericks had approached the Federal High Court filing an ex-parte motion to compel INEC to include other polling units omitted by the Commission for the supplementary election.
 
Justice Ekwo Inyang, in granting the order, the court ruled that INEC should aside polling unit 1-10, also includes polling units 1-10 and 17 to 21 of Ward 6 in Brass Constituency 1 of the state on March 23 supplementary election or any other day determined by the defendant (INEC).

This Facebook user escaped death on Thursday night by the skin of the lion's teeth.
 
According to him this huge snake was killed under his bed, when he was sleeping.
 
After a chat with PhCityBreedTV he reviewed how the snake was killed under his bed.  He severally heard a strange noise coming out of his under bed. 
 
So he decided to go check on what it is. Behold, he saw this huge snake. 
 
He raised alarm and neighbors invaded the room for help. At last the snake was killed.

A man has incurred huge debt in Sapele, Delta State, after crashing a Mercedes Benz he lent from a friend to probably shame his haters.
 
According to Sapele Oghenek, the young man ran into a moving truck, this morning, while at a top speed.
 
The car was not only severely mangled, but he also sustained a degree of injuries. Many have been left wondering how he would face the owner of the expensive vehicle.

 
The General Overseer of Gloryland Church, Pastor Ekene Samuel, has been arrested for impregnating and procuring abortion for a teenage member of his church identified as Miracle, TheNation has reported.
 
Different charms were also found at the residence of Pastor Ekene.
 
Police said Pastor Ekene charmed and had sex with the 17-year-old Miracle in December 2018.
 
Pastor Ekene was arrested after one Henry Aikhuaman reported that Miracle was missing.
 
It was gathered that Miracle was later found on a sick bed at Graceville Medical Centre along Ewah Road in Bénin City.
 
Doctors at the hospital were said to have told police interrogators that Miracle was brought in by one Happy Johnson, a deaconess in Pastor Ekene’s Church.
 
Speaking to newsmen at the police headquarters, Happy said it was Pastor Ekene that told her to procure the abortion for Miracle.
 
Pastor Ekene on his part described Miracle as one of his daughter in his church.
 
“Last year I had an extra marital affair with her in August. She came to me this year that she was pregnant. I asked my member here to take her to the hospital. She was taking some drugs to remove the pregnancy. The baby died in her womb. The doctors did surgery on her because she was having appendicitis. The hospital asked me to pay N380, 000 and I have paid N150, 000 before I was arrested. She did not die.


“These charms were items returned by people I prayed for through deliverance. Some are also for me. I also do spiritual work. I have anti-poison and others.”
 
Edo Police Commissioner, Mr. Muhammed Dan Mallam, said the pastor and his accomplice would soon be charged to court.

Following her controversial Instagram nude video with MC Galaxy last weekend, actress Etinosa Idemudia has come out to explain how it all happened and lessons learnt from the experience.
 
She told Inside Nollywood: “It (the nude video) was (done) under the influence of alcohol. However, the deed has been done. I just had to keep quiet and move on. I can’t explain to everybody what really happened, after all, not everybody is intelligent enough to assimilate and understand certain things. I just had to keep calm and keep my head up high.


“I also don’t think it might affect my chances of getting married someday (laughs). Africa is so freaked about marriage. My dear, if marriage is in one’s destiny it will come.”
 
On the lessons she learned from the scandal, Etinosa said: “If you must drink alcohol, at least do have a friend you trust, who would be with you and seize your phone if things start getting out of hand. She also monitors you, so you don’t do anything stupid. Also, please know your gauge when drinking. Don’t presume you are fine and conscious of your environment. Simply put, drink responsibly.”
 
Recalling her growing up days, the Edo State-born entertainer revealed that she is a spoilt child who never lacked anything from her parents.


“Growing up was cool. I’m a spoilt child. I got everything I wanted from my parents. My parents were so comfortable. So, I had a very good home. Although, my parents never admitted they had money. “My mum would blackmail us that she wouldn’t live a luxury life because of us, but we know that she always got what she wanted for herself.


We were always going for summer (holiday) abroad and having fun. We weren’t allowed to really go out and mix with other children. It was just home, school and church. It was a great experience. My parents are still alive.”
 
On her parents’ reactions on the messy Instagram video, Etinosa said her parents are aware of it and are very supportive of her during the trying times.

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed that that the hunt has begun to fish out the harbinger of fake news that he was involved in an accident that claimed his driver’s life and left him in coma.
 
El-Rufai who said he was in the presidential villa to inform President Muhammadu Buhari that he was never involved in an accident nor was he in coma,  while fielding questions from State House Correspondents, said: “I came to see Mr. President because immediately after my re-election I took a break. I came back to report to him that I was not involved in an accident. I’m alive, I am not in coma and also to discuss other issues related to my state.”
 
Asked what he has to say to those behind the rumour, he said, “my advice to everyone in Nigeria is to avoid forwarding stories that have not been verified. Social media provides platform for disseminating information but it is also a platform for dissemination of lies and hatred. We should be very careful that we don’t use this platform to advance the cause of the enemies of this country.”
 
Reacting to claims by the presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar that he won Kaduna State, El-Rufai said, “Well, I heard about that. Initially, I thought it was a joke but when I checked I saw clearly that he said he won Kaduna. It must be in his dreams. Let me say this without any fear of contradiction, since President Buhari started contesting for the presidency since 2003, he has never lost Kaduna. So, PDP has never won elections in Kaduna from 2003, even with a sitting governor in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. It has never happened. I don’t know what will happen that Atiku will win Kaduna in these elections this time. He lost Kaduna; he lost very badly, even though about 100,000 votes he claimed to have got were added because elections were conducted without card reader in some parts of the state, that’s how he even got up to the 400,000.


“He has lost Kaduna, he will always lose Kaduna, he will lose Kaduna 10 more times because he has never won Kaduna in any presidential elections.”
 
When reminded that the results were from INEC server, the governor said, “well, I don’t know about INEC server, it must be Atiku’s server. I don’t know about INEC server, we don’t know how they had access to it, they will tell us during the tribunal proceedings what is this server and how they got access to it and how they got their numbers. You do not go to court in an election petition by quoting INEC server or any other server. Anyone can create a server, I can go and buy it, it is a piece of equipment and call it INEC server. But that does not mean that it amounts to anything, we are guided by the electoral act and the evidence act and other enabling legislation and he has to prove his case. But anyone can make claims; we live in the age of fake news and fake claims. Anyone can make claims but you have to prove it.”
 
The electoral body had announced Buhari as winner of the election in Kaduna State, having polled 993,482 to defeat PDP’s Atiku, who polled 613,318.

As intense lobby for the new cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari hots up, a string of intrigues and complex power play is unfolding at the nation’s seat of power, Aso Rock.
 
An unfazed President Buhari will however leave the country for London any moment from Friday 29th March, to stave off pressures, draw up his ministers’ list and take a deserved rest before returning home to face challenges of governance again.
 
President Buhari has been playing host to numerous groups, since he was announced winner of the February 23rd presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While on the surface some appear to be congratulatory visits, some observers say those with vested interests might be using the opportunity to pressure him to consider them for political or ministerial appointments.
 
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had last month hinted of the possibility of Buhari dissolving his cabinet before the May 29th inauguration ceremony. The Presidential Spokesman had assured that his boss would announce his new cabinet members as soon as he is sworn in as president.
 
President Buhari took six months to constitute his cabinet after he won the 2015 elections. There has been constant speculations that he would reshuffle his cabinet that will expire on May 29. On March 14th, a committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of Federation, (SGF), Boss Mustapha, ahead of May 29 swearing-in ceremony, was inaugurated.
 
It took Buhari one year to nominate Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni to replace late James Enojo Ocholi as Minister of State for Labour.
 
Ocholi died in a motor accident along Kaduna – Abuja road alongside his wife, Blessing and one of his sons, including his driver in 2016. In the case of six ministers that had left his cabinet to take up appointments or run for elective office, Buhari has only replaced them with ministers in the cabinet.
 
But to stave off current pressure from lobbyists and party members who played key roles in his re-election, the President is said to be planning to take his annual vacation shortly after the supplementary elections in affected states to enable him compile his list of ministers and other political appointees and forward them to the Department of State Services, DSS for clearance, before forwarding them to the Senate for screening and approval. It was further learnt that but for the birthday of a national leader of the ruling APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which the President plans to attend on March 29, he would have travelled this weekend.
 
Presidency sources however said that Buhari was travelling to take a well-deserved rest after a rigorous campaign across all the states of the federation that led to his victory at the polls.
 
Already, the complex power play in the seat of power has claimed his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Bashir Abubakar, who had been redeployed with his replacement,  Idris Kassim Ahmed, announced immediately. His Aide-De-Camp (ADC), Colonel Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, sources say, is also likely to be replaced. He is set to be due for a course in a foreign country. Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, Buhari’s State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), is also said to be on his way out.
 
The trio have been said to be at loggerheads when carrying out their official duties and President Buhari is said to have had enough of them and want them replaced.
 
As President Buhari plans to inject fresh faces into his cabinet as he begins his second term on May 29th, there are ministers who are sure of retaining their seats all other things being equal. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, it was gathered might be retained for his strategic role in helping the president on critical issues.
 
Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika is also said to be part of the President’s inner circle and because Buhari is keen about bringing back Nigeria’s airline before he leaves office, Sirika’s return is almost a done deal.
 
On Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, sources in the Villa say though the initial plan was to send him to the United Kingdom as Nigeria’s High Commissioner and replaced him with the current Minister of education, Adamu Adamu, there are indications Buhari is yet to make up his mind on whether to let him go or not.

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has said his moral authority plays a role in his ability to influence elections.
 
Tinubu said the other tools that helped him influence elections were his skills as a veteran politician and dedication to campaigning and mobilising his own party members.
 
He spoke on Friday in Lagos while responding to an advertorial in the media, alleging that he met with the INEC Chairman to influence the Sokoto State governorship rerun election in favour of the APC, NAN reports.
 
According to Tinubu: “Our attention has been drawn to a partisan advertorial in the March 21 edition of Daily Trust, entitled – ‘Inconclusive Gubernatorial Election: Sokoto People Warn Tinubu, Oshiomole, Yari, Bagudu and others’.


“The advertorial, placed by an organisation called the Sokoto State Coalition of PDP Supporters, bears the logo of PDP National Youth League and is signed by one Engr. Haruna Usman Shagari.


“The advert made baseless allegations against myself, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Chairman of APC, Sen. Adamu Aliero and Gov. Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara.
 
“It falsely alleges that I, along with the others, met the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in order to influence the Sokoto State gubernatorial rerun election in favour of the APC.


“These allegations by a contrived PDP organ are desperate untruths without a basis in fact. But they are entirely in line with the delusional reactions of PDP to their loss in the presidential elections.”
 
Tinubu said that he had Always been at the forefront of the struggle for electoral reform which culminated in the establishment of the Uwais Commission by late President Umaru Yar’adua.
 
“A prominent member of that panel, Prof Attahiru Jega later became the INEC Chairman and was able to implement the far-reaching reforms that have enabled us to have the free and fair elections that we witnessed in 2015 and now in 2019.


“If I were such a prominent supporter of electoral reforms, why wilI I now be among those trying to subvert democracy?


“My only tools for influencing elections are my moral authority, my skills as a veteran politician, and dedication to campaigning and mobilising my own party members, ” he said.
 
Tinubu urged the PDP in Sokoto state to desist from using his name to defraud the people or as a way to gain sympathy.
 
“With respect to Sokoto, former Gov. Aliyu Wamakko is a popular figure and leader who has the respect of the people of the state.


“It is also clear that the APC candidate is more qualified and more committed to the welfare of the people than his PDP opponent.


“By his panicked responses, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has shown his sheer desperation, fears that his political career is crumbling. If he loses this election, he has lost everything.
 

“Thus there is no untruth he will not tell and no tactic too extreme in order to hold on to his seat. However, he should not use my name to defraud the people or as a way to gain sympathy.
 

“Instead, Tambuwal should face the consequences of his own actions. It is Tambuwal, who has caused his own predicament. The people know that Tambuwal has sacrificed their interests to advance his own.
 

“He can try whatever propaganda and untruths he wants, but in the end, the people will render the verdict that his selfish and unproductive record deserves, ” Tinubu said.

DMW artiste, Mayorkun just turned 25 and to celebrate his own success, the talented singer has bought himself a brand new 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
 
The ‘Eleko’ singer, real name Mayokun Adewale and son of Nollywood actress, Toyin Adewale, took to Instagram to share a photo of his new ride with the caption, “About to be 25, sitting on 35 million! I might as well spoil myself a lil! Too grateful!"
 
The Mayor of Lagos has continued to rake in good cash for Davido since he was signed to his record label some years back.