By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it stands by its statement that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not field candidates for the 2019 general elections in Zamfara.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on the sideline of the opening of a two-day validation workshop titled Study on the cost of elections in ECOWAS Region on Monday in Abuja.

We have issued a statement on Zamfara and nothing has changed. We stand by the statement that we issued, he said.

Yakubu re-emphasised that the deadline for submission of party candidates name to the commission was Oct. 18, saying that it would give a full report on that after Nov. 18.

INEC had informed the ruling APC in a leaked memo that it would not be allowed to field candidates for elective positions in Zamfara in the 2019 elections.

The commissions acting Secretary, Okechukwe Ndeche, in a letter to the APC said that the party was barred from fielding candidates for governorship, national assembly and state assembly elections.

The commission said this was because APC failed to comply with Sections 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act of 2010.

Parties, according to the act, were expected to comply with the timetable and schedule of INEC, which says that the conduct of primaries must be held between Aug. 18 and Oct. 7.

INEC said it received reports from its Zamfara office, indicating that no primaries were conducted in the state notwithstanding that our officials were fully mobilised and deployed.

The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, later responded to INEC in a statement and said that the party had already arrived at a consensus before the deadline.

Oshiomhole said that following the high level of friction, disagreements and threats of violence by various political camps before the primaries, all the aspirants met at City King Hotel, Gusau, to find a truce.

After hours of intense horse-trading, a consensus was reached within the spirit and context of the electoral act and the constitution of our party.

This was done in strict compliance with Section 87 (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), he said.

He said that the claim by INEC that no primaries were conducted could only be referring to its officials observation that actual voting did not take place.

The APC chairman said that conduct of primaries was not the only mode prescribed for producing candidates in the electoral act, 2010 (as amended).

We, therefore, affirm that indeed, primaries took place in Zamfara State, Oshiomhole said.

The party chairman also noted that PDP had similar issues in Kano State and wondered why INEC did not bar the opposition party from fielding candidates.

Yakubu further said that the commission would by the end of November print the outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

We have printed the PVCs for those who registered in the first quarter of 2018. We are right now simultaneously printing for those who registered in the second and third quarters.

We are looking at the end of November for all the PVCs to be printed including request for transfer and relocation.

Let me just repeat the assurance that every citizen that registered and who have applied for transfer or replacement will get his or her PVC before 2019 general elections.

He, however, said that the commission had stopped every registration, request for transfer and replacement of damaged PVCs.

Source: NAN

A hat trick from China-based Odion Ighalo and one goal from Samuel Kalu gave Nigerias Super Eagles a 4-0 win over Libya in a 2019 AFCON Qualifier in Uyo.

The victory moved the Eagles into second place in Group E, behind leaders South Africa.

The Eagles now have six points from three matches, one point behind South Africa who earlier in the day mauled visiting Seychelles in Johannesburg 6-0.

Ighalo converted a fourth-minute spot-kick after being fouled and rounded goalkeeper Mohamed Nashnush to tap in and double the lead on 58 minutes.

When a Libyan failed to cut off a low cross, former Watford striker Ighalo scrambled the ball into the net to complete his hat-trick with a quarter of the qualifier remaining.

A last-minute Samuel Kalu goal completed the rout of the Mediterranean Knights, whose Belgian coach Adel Amrouche quit this week over unpaid salaries.

Source: NAN

Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung, is set to receive an award of All Times at the Independence Heros Award scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13 in Calabar, Cross River State.

Catherine Eriom, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Face of Independence Nigeria, the organisers of the award, in a statement, said the award was well deserved for Dalung.

She said that the sports minister had been able to stir up a reformation in the sports sector having democratised the sector and put in place a vibrant youth council leadership after years of power tussle and inconsistencies.

Eriom said that the award was also to recognise Dalungs recent youth and women empowerment courtesy of his NGO: Solomon DalungFoundation and the Ministry of youths and Sports Development.

The award, which is in its 8th edition, will be held at 5pm at the Transcorp Hotels Calabar.

Among the guests of honour are Governors of Cross River State and Abia State,

Other notable guests are Mr Chris Agara, Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo, Tonto Dikeh, Commissioner of Youths, Cross River State, Commissioner of Solid Minerals, Cross River State, Anthony Akan, Captain Ekong, Uwem Udoma among others.

Source: NAN

Its now double police trouble for Kogi-West Senator Dino Melaye: he is wanted by the police in Abuja and also in his home state of Kogi.

In Abuja, the senator, along with Ben Murray-Bruce is wanted over an attack on policemen on 5 October, during a protest about the Osun election. He has not heeded the police invitation.

On Friday, Kogi State Police Command, sent a detachment of officers to his country home in Aiyetoro-Gbede in Kogi State on Oct. 11 to effect his arrest, an incident that the senator has now distorted.

He is wanted in connection with a shooting incident on 19 July, when his armed thugs attacked a policeman on a patrol.

In a statement in Lokoja, the command said it took the action in connection with the July 19 shooting of one of its operatives, Sgt. Danjuma Salihu by thugs suspected to be loyal to the senator.

The statement signed by the commands spokesman, DSP William Aya, said that the clarification followed the allegation Melaye on his twitter page of Oct. 12 that the ADC to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi led some officers to his house to assassinate him.

The ADC has nothing to do with this case. The Command wishes to state unequivocally that the statement is not only a figment of the imagination of Sen. Melaye who has mastered the art of political gimmickry, but totally false, malicious and highly mischievous.

The Commissioner of Police sent Police Officers to his country home for arrest, unfortunately we did not get him at home, the statement said.

It accused Melaye, who is representing Kogi West senatorial district of mobilising thugs to attack its personnel on routine duty along MopaAiyetoro-Gbede on July 19 without any provocation.

The thugs shot and injured Force No. 432913 Sgt. Danjuma Saliu who is currently receiving treatment at Veda Crest Hospital, Abuja, the statement said.

Aya said Melaye was invited officially through letter No. AR:3000/KGS/X/VOL.43/670 dated 23/7/2018 to come and answer the charges on him but refused to show up or give reason for not honoring the invitation.

The Senator is wanted by the Kogi State Police Command for criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms, the statement explained.

It then appealed to Melaye to report to the command headquarters in Lokoja to answer the allegations against him and stop joining issues with people who have nothing to do with the case at hand.

Source: NAN

Governor Ayo Fayose is rounding off affairs in Ekiti state, where he had reigned for four years.

As the hours ticked for a handover to Governor-elect Kayode Fayemi on 16 October, Fayose has stepped up the handing over rites.

He will not be attending Fayemis second inauguration as governor as he has an appointment with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, but he has handed over the instrument of office to the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka.

Today, however, he took wife of the incoming governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, on a tour of the Government House in Ado Ekiti, which he does not plan, as he tweeted to hand over to Fayemi, but again to the Head of Service.

I am presently taking Dr. Kayode Fayemi's Wife, Erelu Bisi and other members of the inauguration committee round the Govt House.

Tomorrow, I will hand over the Govt House to the Head of Service.

I am presently taking Dr. Kayode Fayemi's Wife, Erelu Bisi and other members of the inauguration committee round the Govt House.

Tomorrow, I will hand over the Govt House to the Head of Service. pic.twitter.com/2oV7jMOJ1A

— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) October 13, 2018

Source: NAN

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has recanted his disdain for his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is reported to be lobbying American to withdraw the ban reportedly placed his former foe from entering the U.S.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also accused Obasanjo of making moves to secure United States entry visa for the 72-year-old 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

81-year-old Obasanjo fell out with Atiku Abubakar before his exit from office as President in 2007 because of quarrel over his third term bid which his then Vice President Abubakar opposed.

The former Nigerian Army general who was President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of current opposition PDP also publicly denounced the party, just as Atiku Abubakar also did.

Obasanjo also lampooned Atiku Abubakar in his latest book, but they have all swallowed their vows and found solace in the same party they had renounced and castigated because of the gang up to prevent President Muhammadu Buhari from a re-election.

The new romance of the duo which has sparked interest among some political pundits is getting deeper a gang-up against Africas anti-corruption czar.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC s Acting National Publicity Secretary, said in Abuja o Friday that Obasanjo has gone further to lobby the United States to lift the sanctions placed on the candidate for 2019 presidential election of PDP.

We have come across credible reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar.

He recalled that the entry ban was placed on Atiku following a $500,000 bribery scandal in 2005 that involved Atiku, his fourth wife, Jennifer, and former United States Congressman, William Jefferson.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obasanjo, had on Thursday, endorsed the candidacy of Atiku who was the Vice President when he was in office.

Nabena, however, stressed that former Obasanjos intervention in Atikus ban from the United States of America was evidence of his legendary hypocrisy and self-serving interest in national affairs.

He noted that Obasanjo during and after leaving office, had always insisted on Atikus unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of his extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President.

Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering.

A report by the U.S Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to siphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer, Nabena said.

This, he said, happened while Atiku was still the Vice President of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008.

He added that it was on the strength of the report, that President George Bush barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States.

This, the APC spokesman said was the reason Atiku had not been able to travel to the United States till date.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe
The Federal Government has placed a foreign travel ban on no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by Executive Order 6 (EO6).

The affected persons are already on the watch-list and are restricted from leaving the country pending the determination of their cases.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed this development in Abuja on Saturday.

He said this development followed the instant judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the EO6.

He said already President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to implement the Order in full force.

To this end, a number of enforcement procedures are currently in place by which the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies have placed no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restricted them from leaving the county pending the determination of their cases.

Also, the financial transactions of these persons of interest are being monitored by the relevant agencies to ensure that the assets are not dissipated and such persons do not interfere with, nor howsoever corrupt the investigation and litigation processes.

It is instructive to note that EO6 was specifically directed to relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending the final determination of any corruption-related matter, he added.

Shehu said the Buhari administration had reassured all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians of its commitment to the fight against corruption, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the general principles of the Rule of Law.

He, therefore, maintained that the administration would uphold the rule of law in all its actions as well as protect the right of citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution.

We, therefore, enjoin all Nigerians to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities towards ensuring a successful implementation of the Executive Order 6 which is a paradigm-changing policy of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, he said.

Source: NAN

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a CBS interview on Saturday that there would be severe punishment for Saudi Arabia if it turns out that missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Trump said he did not want to block military sales to Saudi Arabia, one option that has rattled U.S. defence contractors, saying, I dont want to hurt jobs.

Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Riyadh and a U.S. resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post, disappeared on Oct. 2 after visiting the consulate.

Were going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment, Trump said.

Asked whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave an order to kill Khashoggi, Trump said, Nobody knows yet, but well probably be able to find out. Trump added in excerpts of the 60 Minutes interview that will air on Sunday, We would be very upset and angry if that were the case.

Trump said there was much at stake with Khashoggi case, maybe especially so because he was a reporter.

Major U.S. defence contractors have expressed concern to the Trump administration that lawmakers angered by Khashoggis disappearance will block further arms deals with Riyadh.

But Trump said he did not want to lose military sales to Saudi Arabia that are coveted by U.S. competitors Russia and China, also exporters of military equipment.

I dont want to lose an order like that, he said, mentioning the companies Boeing, Lockheed and Raytheon. And you know what, there are other ways of punishing, he said, without elaborating.

Turkish sources have told Reuters the initial assessment of the police was that Khashoggi was deliberately killed inside the consulate.

Riyadh has dismissed the claims.

*Reported by AFP

Source: NAN

Aisha Buhari Foundation has embarked on the building of a 70-bed antenatal and maternity clinic within the premises of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

The Clinic is being built to complement the existing 17 bed Maternity ward at the Centre.

Aisha Buharis personal physician, Dr. Mohammed Kamal, while inspecting the project said, the clinic when completed will cater for the health need of the people of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba as well as the neighbouring Cameroon Republic.

Kamal, said the clinic was built as part of Aisha Buharis commitment to improve the healthcare of women and children in Nigeria.

The inspection was conducted to ascertain the level of work so far done.

Kamal, conveying Aishas optimism, said the project would be completed and handed over before the end of the year.

The facility, which is being built through private partnership comprises of emergency operation ward, consultation rooms, ultra sound room, Antenatal and Gynaecology ward, pharmacy, laboratory as well as family planning units.

The facility, when completed, will have the capacity of attending to 200 patients.

The Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Prof. Auwal Abubakar, said, the new Antenatal complex will assist the Centre to adequately cater for the health needs of women and children.

Abubakar said that the existing maternal centre was over stretched due to the influx of patients within and outside the state.

He said that the new complex will go a long way in reducing the challenges faced by patients during emergencies.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the wife of the President also donated a similar Maternity Clinic in Daura, Katsina State as part of her efforts to contribute to the well-being of women and children in Nigeria

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a team of three ministers, to Borno and Yobe states to meet with the families of kidnapped Leah Sharibu and aid workers and further convey his concern and efforts to free them from the clutches of Boko Haram terrorists.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed minister of Information and Culture, who bore the presidents message said the government will leave no stone unturned to secure the release of the abducted.

The Ministers team visited Maiduguri in Borno State and Dapchi in Yobe State.

In the delegation were Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, who also oversees Women Affairs, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Abba Bukar Ibrahim,

In Dapchi, the delegation, met with Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, Mother of Leah, as well as other members of their family at an emotion-laden ceremony.

Alhaji Mohammed said President Muhammadu Buhari sent the delegation as a follow-up to his phone call to Leahs mother a few days ago, adding that the government will not rest until Leah has been reunited with her family.

Visibly excited students of the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, from where Leah and about 109 of her colleagues were abducted on 19 Feb. 2018, trooped out to welcome the delegation when the chopper that ferried them to Dapchi landed in the school premises.

Earlier, the delegation also met with the families of the three aid workers who were abducted in March 2018.

At the meeting, which was held in the Borno State Government House, Alhaji Mohammed reassured them of the Governments efforts to secure the release of the two that remained in captivity, Alice Loksha and Amina Liman.

He also condoled with the parents of the third aid worker, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed, who was killed by her abductors last month.

The Minister said this is a trying time for the government and people of Borno State, but praised the governments resilience in tackling the challenges arising from the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, who received the delegation, expressed gratitude to President Buhari for sending the delegation to the state,
saying this shows that the President is a true leader.

Source: NAN