[News] APC Withdraw From Akwa-Ibom Rerun Elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate Senator Godswill Akpabio has withdrawn from the rerun elections in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom state.

In a press conference on Friday at the party’s secretariat in Uyo, the state Chairman of the party, Mr Ini Okopido, stated that the APC was withdrawing due to a perceived bias of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the electoral umpire ahead of Saturday’s election.

According to Okopido, both Senator Akpabio whose candidacy has been replaced with Ekperikpe Ekpo for the Senatorial District election and Nse Ntuen for Essien Udim State Constituency will not participate in the elections.

He also accused the head of INEC in the  state, Mike Igini, of showing bias towards the party, stressing that the electoral officers will not conduct a fair election.

The state APC chairman revealed that the party has dragged INEC to court for failing to affirm the victory of Nse Ntuen as the member representing Essien Udim in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as ordered by the Appeal court.

He said: “We have officially as a party withdrawn from the rerun elections in Essien Udim local government area. We are so dissatisfied with the conduct of INEC in Akwa Ibom State and we have withdrawn from the elections.

“As far as we are concerned, Igini has shown unprecedented bias against APC. He cannot give us a fair contest. We know he does not like APC in Akwa Ibom State and if he conducts any election in Akwa Ibom, the party will withdraw. Igini has not been fair to us as a state.”

[Gist] Two Robbers To Die By Hanging In Ekiti State

Two notorious robbers have been sentenced to death by hanging after pleading guilty to allegations against them.

Jamiu Idris and Ganiu Issah who were accused of robbing one Mr Obanbi of his Toyota Camry car in November last year have been sentenced to death by Justice John Adeyeye of the Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti.

Naija News learned that the robbers who were accused of two counts of conspiracy and armed robbery, pleaded guilty, after founding in their possession guns and some other items.

It was revealed by the state Ministry of Justice, Mrs Kemi Ajumobi that the conviction of Jamiu and Ganiu came after the last operation which they carried out at D5 Progress Street, off Poly Road, Ado Ekiti.

Justice Kemi further reveals that the convicts were labourers, who worked on Adams’ site.

She said that the police tracked their phones, which led to their arrest and prosecution. The court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found them guilty as charged.

In the course of the trial, the prosecutor called four witnesses to prove her case and tendered exhibits, including two guns, five live cartridges, phones and the car as well as the convicts’ confessional statements. But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The counsel for the defendants, Mr Chris Omokhafe, gave evidence in their defence.

[News] ‘New House’: Senator Dino Melaye Slams The Nation Newspaper

I Give Nation Newspaper 24 Hours to pull this story down and apologise. A house built before becoming a senator is newly aquaired. They did not state address and manifest thier disdain with the attached write up. National newspaper now practicing YELLOW Journalism.

[News] Presidency Reacts To U.S. Visa Restrictions

The Nigerian government through the presidency has reacted to the reported planned imposition of visa restrictions on some African and Asian countries including Nigeria by America’s government led by President Donald Trump. 

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity has issued a statement in Abuja on Wednesday on behalf of the government.

 Some local traditional media organisations including online publications quoted foreign media outfits on Tuesday that the Donald Trump administration had concluded plans to add seven countries across the world, including Nigeria, to the country’s travel ban list. 

The affected countries included Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Eritrea from Africa while Kyrgyzstan and Belarus from Eastern Europe and Myanmar from Asia. The presidential aide, however, said: ”Yes, we have read the news that the Trump administration is planning to add a host of African, Asian and Eastern European countries to its travel restrictions list as reported by the U.S. media.”We are not going to react to speculations. We urge you to wait for us to see what unfolds under the new policy, its scope, its reach, the implications, and its consequences before we react.”

[Sports] Arsenal celebrate Kanu Nwankwo's signing 21 years ago

Arsenal Football club of England have taken to Twitter to celebrate signing legendary Nigerian player Kanu Nwankwo 21 years ago.

Kanu was signed from Inter Milan for 4million pounds on 15 January 1999 after being spotted by Arsene Wenger and went on to make 119 appearances for the North London club, scoring 44 goals, before departing for West Bromwich Albion in 2004.

To mark the signing, Arsenal accompanied a Tweet with a video of Kanu’s best five goals scored at the club.

“On this day 21 years ago… we signed the one and only Kanu!”

[News] Tinubu Sends Message To Bisi Akande, Reveals What APC Owes Ex-Osun Governor

Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu has poured encomiums on the APC’s party’s former interim Chairman, Bisi Akande describing him as a “highly principled and incorruptible leader.”

Tinubu made the remark while eulogizing Akande for his contributions to the APC family and Nigeria in general.

Congratulating Akande on his 81st birthday, the APC National Leader said Akande always stood as a father figure and mentor to many younger politicians across the country, particularly in the South-West.

Tinubu said APC owed Akande a debt of gratitude for the exceptional leadership he demonstrated while managing the party as its interim chairman.

In a statement he signed and issued on Wednesday, the former Lagos State governor said: “Chief Akande is an unwavering progressive politician.

“Since he enlisted in the Action Group in the First Republic, professing progressivism and following in the ideals of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he has not looked back.

“He is one of the few true associates of the late Awolowo and late Chief Bola Ige around today.”

“The APC national leader said that Akande devoted his public life to the ideals and practices that could engender a truly democratic and egalitarian society.

“Because of his traits as an exemplary leader and mentor, many call him ‘Baba awon omo ke ke ke’, meaning the political father of the younger ones.

“He has shown that one can be successful in politics by being kind to all and making concern for the common person and for a just society one’s guiding vision.

“For us in APC, Chief Akande has been a blessing,” he said.

Tinubu said that Akande was a founding father of the APC and helped to lay a solid foundation for the party.

“He instilled discipline, transparency, and accountability. Under him, internal democracy flourished.

“Baba is a higher perspective and thoughtful leader.

“He has proved invaluable in serving humanity and his fatherland.

“What he gave to his state, to the Yoruba race, he also gave to his country; he gave his best.

“May he continue to stand forth as an example to young leaders and may his wise counsel and civic virtue help guide and shape this nation.” 

[News] Fulani Group Speaks On Working For Amotekun

A Fulani cultural group, Jamu Nati Fulbe association has called on the South-West governors to recruit members of the Fulani community as operatives of the newly launched Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Amotekun.

President of the association, Alhaji Abdulkadir Salihu, who is also the Sarkin Fulani of Oyo State told our correspondent that Fulani have capable hands that can be recruited as officers of the security outfit. He said involvement of Fulani men would give them assurance that the Fulani residents in the region would not be target of the new outfit.

Salihu stressed that the Fulani community in the South-West is in the dark about the operation of Amotekun saying “this is a government programme and we cannot stop it and we are not antagonizing the governors who came up with this initiative.

Our appeal is that this should not be turned into a platform solely to target the Fulani herdsmen.”

He also disclosed that the leadership of the Fulani community plans to meet with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to intimate him about their position on the Amotekun operation.

“We were not carried along as a community which is part and parcel of the South-West. Most of us who live in this community have been here for more than 40, 50 years,” he added.

Salihu reiterated that insecurity affects both indigenes and settlers in the region and the Amotekun initiative was a welcome development if it was meant to genuinely tackle insecurity.

He said the Fulani community has also been victims of armed robbery and kidnapping, adding that it is wrong to say it is only the Fulanis that perpetrate crimes.

“We have criminals everywhere.”