The United States (U.S.), is halting humanitarian funding to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the State Department has confirmed.

The move comes just days after President Donald Trump warned of a new migrant caravan heading toward the southern U.S. border and issued warnings that he planned to close the U.S.-Mexico border next week if Mexico did not do more to stop caravans of migrants.

Many are also fleeing Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador and attempting to gain entry into the U.S.

At the Secretarys instruction, we are carrying out the Presidents direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle.

We will be engaging Congress as part of this process, a State Department spokesperson told USA TODAY.

Trump has long threatened to cut off humanitarian aid to the countries, including before the 2018 midterm elections when he held a slew of rallies and warned of an invasion of migrants from the countries.

He recently declared a national emergency at the border to secure funding for a proposed wall, despite Congressional opposition.

On Friday, the president threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border if Mexico didnt stop undocumented migrants from coming.

Theres a very good likelihood that Ill be closing the border next week, Trump told reporters gathered at his Florida resort. I will close the border if Mexico doesnt get with it.

Historically, the United States has viewed foreign aid programs to Central American countries as a vital component of stabilising the countries, potentially halting the flow of immigrants seeking to migrate to the United States. Under Trump, aid to the countries had already plummeted.

The U.S. provided about $131 million in aid to Guatemala, $98 million to Honduras, and $68 million to El Salvador in 2016, according to Reuters.

The following year the funding fell to about $69 million for Guatemala, $66 million for Honduras and $46 million for El Salvador.

In April, Trump also threatened to withdraw aid from Honduras a caravan of migrants fled the country.

The group, which grew to as many as 1,600 migrants, grew smaller as it moved north. By the time they reached Tijuana, on the Mexican side of the southern U.S. border, only about 300 migrants remained.

Honduras murder rate has declined in recent years but it still had the fourth-highest rate among Latin American nations in 2017 at 42.8 per 100,000 residents, according to Insight Crime.

Only Venezuela, El Salvador and Jamaica suffered more murders in the region that year.

According to the World Bank, 66 percent of Hondurans live in poverty and about one out of five Hondurans in rural areas live on less than $1.90 a day.

Long before Trump took office, the United States had a checkered history of involvement in Central America and some say American foreign policy in the region caused the instability and inequality at the root of the current crisis.

There was the CIAs covert operation to overthrow Guatemalas democratically elected president in 1954, and Americas intervention in El Salvadors civil war in the 1980s.

And the Obama administrations refusal in 2009 to label the ouster of Honduras president a military coup even though soldiers dragged him out of bed in the middle of the night and sent him into exile in his pajamas.

Jeff Faux, a distinguished fellow at the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, said the decades-long history of American intervention has left Central American governments weak and fragile while empowering oligarchs and drug cartels, which has, in turn, fueled the corruption and gang violence that drives residents to flee.

Source: NAN

By Shedrack Frank

Four armed men suspected to be operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday whisked away a journalist, Jones Abiri, to an disclosed location.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abiri, the publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper, who was incarcerated for two years on suspicion of terrorism, was whisked away at about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

According to eyewitnesses, Abiri was in company of some collegues at his office at Azikoro junction of Yenagoa when the armed men arrived at the scene in a white Hilux Van and black Prado Jeep. They dragged and pushed him into one of the vehicles and drove off.

Austin Bodo, a journalist who witnessed the incident, said we were sitting outside his office when a black Prado jeep and white Hilux drove into the premises in commando style.

As they parked, two men carrying the type of guns used by DSS operatives, jumped out of one of the cars and said Abiri was under arrest and immediately started dragging him and forced him into one of the cars and drove off.

Another witness, Mr. Bankole Abdulazeez, said we were discussing national issues when the cars drove in.

Two armed men came out of the cars and without identifying themselves, they said you are under arrest and started dragging him.

They threatened to shoot anybody that tries to stop them.

I heard him shouting what have I done again? what have I done again? Before they finally dragged him into one of the cars and drove off, he said.

When contacted, a DSS Official, who preferred anonymity, said: I only heard of it from a journalist friend; I dont think it is our men from here.

Source: NAN

No fewer than 42 registered political parties in Kano State have supported expressed their support to the outcome of the supplementary election that produced the re-election of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.

The political parties are happy that Ganduje of All Progressives Congress (APC) won the just concluded governorship election which opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked against.

The political parties came together on the platform of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

The CUPP chairman in the state, Alhaji Nuhu Isah, who paid a congratulatory visit to the governor, expressed dismay over a purported news conference held in Kano where it was reported that the coalition condemned the entire process due to alleged electoral irregularities.

Isah who is also the chairman, lnter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said the 42 political parties were satisfied with the election outcome and would not challenge it at the tribunal.

We are shocked to read the contents of the news conference discrediting the whole conduct of the process, security agencies, INEC and worst still the declaration to challenge the outcome of the exercise.

We in CUPP comprising the representatives of the 42 political parties in the coalition, and joined by the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), categorically disown and disassociate the coalition from the sham press conference as well as condemn it in its entirety.

We also express our dismay at the action of the conveners of the news conference for using the coalition to express personal and untoward views for whatever reasons and influence under the guise of CUPP, he said.

He noted that the coalition monitored the supplementary election in Kano and in all sincerity believed it to be free, fair and peaceful.

Isah also acknowledged that there were pockets of violence in some polling units which magnitude were insignificant to warrant any call for cancellation of the election or legal redress at the tribunal.

Earlier, Gov.Ganduje wondered why only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faulted the re-run election while it was not the only party that participated.

He promised to run an all-inclusive government, which would be anchored on unity to develop Kano state.

We are going to carry everybody along irrespective of political inclination to move Kano state forward, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Muhammad Adam

The Adamawa governorship supplementary election has successfully commenced in 14 Local Government Areas across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited some polling units on Thursday in Yola, the state capital, reports that the exercise was moving smoothly.

Speaking with NAN, Ms Furera Adamu, INEC Presiding Officer in charge of Mustafa Primary School polling units in Bako ward in Yola, said the election started at 8 a.m.

Adamu said that so far, there was no problem of card readers malfunction, adding that electorate were turning out to cast their votes.

The election started at 8 a.m in my unit and so far, there is no any problem as our card readers are functioning effectively.We have enough security operatives deployed, Adamu said.

At the Bako Primary School polling unit 007 in Yola South Local Government Area, the election started as scheduled.

In Girei and Fufore Local Government Areas, the exercise was moving smoothly as electorates were casting their votes orderly and peacefully.

Speaking with NAN, Mr Kasim Gaidam, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state said the commission was well prepared for the election where about 358 staff engaged for the supplementary election.

He said the election was been conducting in 14 local government areas in the 44 affected polling units and in 29 wards.

Gaidam said areas where the elections were being conducted include: Yola South, Fufore, Ganye, Girei, Guyuk, Hong, Lamurde, Numan, Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Shelleng, Song and Toungo Local Government Areas.

NAN reports that there was presence of election supervisors, accredited political agents and other stakeholders.

Source: NAN

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has taken his case to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, asking for reversal of the March 22 judgment of Osun Election Tribunal which declared Sen. Ademola Adeleke winner of September 2018 election.

The tribunal had, by a majority judgment given by two of its three members, voided the election of Oyetola, pronounced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate winner and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a certificate of return.

In a notice appeal filed on March 26, by his team of lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Oyetola urged the appellate court to nullify the tribunal judgment given by Justices Peter Obiora and Anyinla Gbolagunte.

Oyetola faulted the majority judgment on the grounds that it was perverse, replete with contradictions and not supported by evidence led by the petitioners.

The Osun governor, therefore, prayed the Court of Appeal to uphold his appeal, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss Adelekes petition at the tribunal.

The governor said his complaint in the appeal was against the entire majority judgment, except where the tribunal held that it lacked jurisdiction to set aside INEC Guidelines.

Oyetola contended that the majority judgment was a nullity because it was written and delivered by Justice Obiora, who did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal and who was not present when all the witnesses gave evidence.

He noted that Justice Obiora was absent on Feb. 6 this year when the respondents witnesses (RWs) 12 and 13 Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem testified and tendered exhibits, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

The appellant argued that, Justice Obiora could not have seen the two witnesses and was unable to examine their demeanour, as required, and therefore, unlawful for the judge to have authored a judgment to review the evidence given by the witnesses.

Oyetola also argued that the tribunal, in its majority judgment, erred in law and acted without jurisdiction when it accepted the petitioners complaint of non compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act in relation to the September 22, 2018 governorship election and on that basis proceeded to nullify the victory of Oyetola and APC.

The appellant noted that, no where in the entire petition, did Adeleke and the PDP complain about non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in relation to the September 22, 2018 election.

He added that the only ground, in the petition, alleging non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act was in relation to the re-run election held on September 27, 2018.

Oyetola noted that the tribunal contradicted itself in its conclusion, in page 191 of the majority judgment, to the effect that the information omitted by the election officers in the Forms EC8A in the 17 polling units, where the tribunal voided results, were essential to proving over-voting.

Oyetola said: All petitioners witnesses testified and admitted that petitioners were not short-changed regarding the scores recorded for them in each Form EC8A tendered, and that no addition of votes was reflected in favour of the appellants.

By cancelling of elections in 17 poling units, the lower tribunal acted without jurisdiction. By deciding as aforesaid, the lower tribunal discountenanced Section 139(1) of the Electoral Act.

Oyetola also faulted the tribunals decision to void the re-run election when the petitioners did prove that there were elections in the seven polling units where the re-run election took place and that the results were wrongly cancelled.

He noted that the petitioners did not plead nor adduce evidence that the presiding officers of the affected seven polling units had ab initio (on his own/without any prompting) approved of the elections at the polling units.

He added that the petitioners did not tender the results from the seven polling units.

The appellant also noted that the petitioners did not call in their agents from the affected polling units as witnesses; did not tender documentary evidence to show that it was the returning officer that unilaterally cancelled the elections.

Oyetola also argued that the tribunal acted outside its jurisdiction, erred in law and arrived at a perverse decision when it engaged in calculating and subtracting from election results to arrive at proclaiming Adeleke and PDP as being victorious.

The appellant noted that, while the petitioners, in their relief, put the total votes of parties, after the deduction of the cancelled votes, at : APC 241,335 and PDP:246,634, the tribunal, in its judgment, after making its computation and deduction, allocated the parties: APC 253,452 and PDP 253, 777.

Oyetola argued that, where the petitioners failed to tender the press release they claimed INEC issued in respect of the cancelled elections, and also failed to tender results from the seven polling units, the tribunal was in error to have acceded to the petitioners prayer to void the said press release.

The appellant also argued that the tribunal contradicted itself when, on the one hand, it nullified the re-run election of September 27, 2018, but on the other hand, went ahead to void the election of the appellant on the same election.

He further argued: Having rightly held that it lacks the jurisdiction to strike down and nullify the approved guidelines and regulations for the conduct of the Osun governorship election 2018, made by INEC, the tribunal mis-directed itself in law and came to a perverse decision by going ahead to nullify the re-run election.

Oyetola also argued that the tribunal was wrong to have declared Adeleke winner of the election, held on September 22 and 27, 2018 on grounds of non-compliance rather than ordering a re-run election.

He noted that, not only did the decision disenfranchise the electorate in the affected polling units, it violated the provisions of Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act.

Oyetola argued that, since elections were concluded in the polling units; results counted and recorded in the appropriate forms, and no one contested the quantum of votes scored by the parties, the reasons given by the tribunal to void the votes did not affect the result of the election.

He added: The lower tribunal wrongly disenfranchised the electorate in the said polling units after casting their votes and without any challenge to the scores generated from the voting exercise.

The appellant prayed the court of to dismiss the petition by Adeleke and PDP, for being unmeritorious and set aside the majority decision of the tribunal, which he argued, is against the weight of evidence. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The photo-finish governorship race in Sokoto State, where incumbent Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party only managed to beat Ahmed Aliyu,the APC challenger with 342 votes has had a mirror-image in the strength of the parties in the state assembly.

As the details of who is who in the Assembly emerges, the APC and PDP split the composition right down the middle.

However, the APC, with 16 members, has an edge over the PDP, which has 14 members.

This picture means that the APC will produce the Speaker of the House and other principal officers.

Here is a list of the members:

1. Aminu Magaji (APC- Dange/Shuni)

2. Mustapha Abdullahi (APC- Sokoto South 1)3)Malami Ahmed (PDP- Sokoto South II)

3. Suke Romo (PDP- Tambuwal West)

4. Mode Ladan (PDP Tambuwal East)

6)Musa Miko (PDP- Tangaza)

7. Murtala Maigona (APC- Wamakko)

8. Aminu Achida (APC-Wurno)

9. Shehu Yabo (APC- Yabo)

10. Haliru Buhari (PDP- Sokoto North 1)

11. Ibrahim Arzika (PDP- Sokoto North II)

12. Abdullahi Randa (PDP- Tureta)

13. Umaru Sahabi (PDP- Binji)

14. Abubakar Magaji (PDP- Bodinga North)

15. Bala Tukur (APC- Bodinga South)

16. Altine Kyadawa (APC- Gada West)

17. Kabiru Dauda (APC- Bada East)

18. Mustapha Balle (PDP- Gudu)

19. Bello Idris (APC- Gwadabawa South)

20. Abdullahi Garba (APC- Gwadabawa North)

21. Bello Ambarura (APC- Illela)

22. Habibu Modachi (PDP- Isa)

23. Abdullahi Mahmud (PDP- Kware)

24. Abdullahi Zakari (APC- Rabah)

25. Almustapha Aminu (PDP- Sabon Birni North)

26. Saidu Ibrahim (APC- Sabon Birni South)

27. Alhaji Maidawa (APC- Shagari)

28. Atiku Liman (PDP- Silame)

29. Isa Harisu (APC- Kebbe)

30. Faruku Amadu (APC- Goronyo)

*The initial head count was wrong. We are sorry for the error.

Source: NAN

Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party extended his lead in the governorship election in Adamawa after the collation of the supplementary election on Thursday.

He won in all the 14 local government areas, where supplementary election took place, polling 8,839 votes.

Incumbent Gov. Muhammadu Jubrilla Bindow of APC got 1,391 votes.

At the conclusion of the election on 23 March, Fintiri led Bindow with 32, 476 votes.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Andrew Haruna, will announce the final figures for the two candidates after midnight and from all indications, Fintiri will be announced the winner.

Before the make-up poll, Fintiri had 367,471 votes while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Jubrilla Bindow had 334,995 votes.

Source: NAN

Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri of Peoples Democratic Party has emerged winner of Adamawa Governorship election.

The Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Andrew Haruna, who declared the result Thursday in Yola after the supplementary election in 44 units across 14 local government areas of the state said Fintiri polled 376,552 votes to beat his closest rival, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of APC who scored 336,386 votes.

Sen. Abdul-Azeez Nyako of ADC scored 113,237 votes, while Chief Emmanuel Bello of SDP got 29,792 votes.

Fintiri born in October 27, 1967 in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa is a graduate of History from University of Maiduguri.

He was the Speaker of Adamawa House of Assembly in 2014 and also served as Acting Governor in July 2014 following the impeachment of then Gov. Murtala Nyako.

Source: NAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said saboteurs and politicians in cassock attempted to prevent its leadership from paying congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, at State House after the leadership of CAN visited Buhari on Friday, dismissed the allegation that pressure was mounted on the CAN leaders to congratulate the president on his re-election.

A national daily and some online platforms had reported that some influential people working closely with the Federal Government were mounting pressure on CAN leadership to pay a congratulatory visit to Buhari.

The report quoted a source closed to CAN leadership as saying: If you know the pressure mounted on CAN leadership that we, as a body, have to go and congratulate the president.

However, the church is saying this election is controversial and we see what is happening. But, they are still mounting pressure seriously.

They are telling us if we dont congratulate him, it means we are against him and that we are partisan.

However, we are saying let them resolve the issues (in court) before we go and congratulate whoever wins. Thats the situation we find ourselves as the Church of God.

The CAN leader, however, dismissed the report, saying it was the handiwork of saboteurs and enemies of progress, who did not wish the association well.

He said: Saboteurs who didnt want us to come here (Aso Rock). We are old enough to know what to do and what not to do.

If somebody like me after 60 years of age will be under pressure it means that my life would never have meaning again.

But by the grace of God we have a meaningful life, I know what to do. By Gods grace He has prepared me well for this assignment.

So, those distractors and those politicians in cassock should go and find better job to do, he said.

Ayokunle noted that the CAN leadership was in the villa not only to congratulate the president on his re-election, but to remind him of the yearnings of Nigerians.

The cleric said that Nigerians wanted him to perform 100 per cent better than that of the first term.

He, therefore, advised the president that only the best Nigerians should be considered while constituting his new cabinet, stressing that he should do more in addressing socio-economic challenges facing the citizens.

Now, he has mastered the job; he has mustered enough strengthen to be able to go full swing into action.

We want him to do more on security- kidnappings almost everywhere and the issue of insurgency in the northeast, the insurgents should be silenced once and for all.

These ethnic militias that have now moved to the northwest, which used to be peaceful, and they are now causing violence there before they will grow wings their wings should be clipped completely, he added.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Taiye Agbaje

Three days after the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier judgment of Federal High Court, nullifying Jones Erue-led faction of APC executive committee in Delta, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege said he was undaunted.

He restated that his re-election was valid.

Omo-Agege, who re-contested the senatorial seat on the platform of APC faction led by Erue, said his re-election remains valid and legitimate.

Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, said in a statement by Godwin Anaughe, his Senior Special Assistant, Communications and Strategy, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal, Benin, had on March 29, upheld the earlier judgment delivered by the Asaba Federal High Court which nullified the Jones Erue-led APC state executive committee.

Omo-Agege and Rev. Francis Waive had earlier filed an application seeking the leave of court to join as parties to the appeal, on behalf of themselves and other candidates of the APC, against the judgment of the Asaba court.

Reacting, the lawmaker said it was instructive to note that the ruling delivered by the Court of Appeal only struck out the application on the ground that they cannot appeal the judgment as individuals since they were both members of APC who can appeal the judgment on their behalf.

According to him, the APC has already filed an appeal against the judgment.

Omo-Agege, who said that the Benin Appeal Court has not and did not determine the appeal filed before it by the APC, reiterated that the consent judgment delivered by Justice A.I. Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court was still valid and subsisting.

And all the recent happenings in court have neither invalidated nor set aside the consent judgement.

Therefore, the Prophet Jones Erue-led Exco remains the authentic and legitimate APC Executive Committee of Delta, so also are all the candidates of APC in the just-concluded 2019 General Elections, he said.

According to him, it is settled law that a court cannot make a finding that will be prejudicial against a person that is neither before it nor a party to the case and cannot in the same vain grant a relief which will affect a person who is not a party in the suit.

OKONKWO vs. OKAGBUE (1994) 9 NWLR (PT 368) 301. The effect of Order(s) made against persons not joined as a party is that such order is a nullity and of no effect.

This remains the position of the law as affirmed by the Supreme Court in plethora of cases, including but not limited to the case of OKONTA VS PHILIP.

Therefore, the status of all the candidates of the APC in Delta for the 2019 General Elections remains valid and legitimate, Omo-Agege argued. (NAN)

Source: NAN