INEC Declares Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Winner

President #Muhammadu #Buhari of the All Progressives' Congress (APC) has been declared the 2019 President-Elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having defeated his closest rival; Alhaji #Atiku #Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the Chairman #INEC and Chief Returning Officer, Professor #Mahmoud #Yakubu who announced the results early this morning, said having satisfied the requirements of the law, the APC scored 15,191,847 to emerge winner of the 2019 Presidential election trailed by PDP-scoring 11,262,978votes.

Oshiomole Defends Fayemi in Vote-Buying Scandal in Ekiti State

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, does not have the financial capability for vote-buying.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Roadmap 2019 two months after Fayemi won the contentious poll, Mr Oshiomhole said the former minister barely saw the campaign through.

“No one can claim that Fayemi is a rich man, I know he was struggling to find money to mobilise and to sustain his campaign,” he said.

He, however, claimed it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent government that had access to such resources.

Governor Fayose condemns Northern Youths ultimatum to Igbos to leave north

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has condemned the ultimatum given by some Northern youths to the Igbos living in the Northern part of Nigeria to leave, saying; “such reckless pronouncement could only come from a group of irresponsible and jobless youths."

Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said in a statement issued on Sunday, that the governor chided the Northern youths for making such pronouncement at a time Nigerians needed to join hands together for the development of the nation.

Checkout Senators that constitute ‘Cabal’ in the Nigerian Senate

The 8th Nigerian Senate has been replete with political game-plays orchestrated by major actors popularly called ‘cabal.’ Below are 7 senators who constitute the ‘cabal’ in Nigerian Senate today, as compiled by Nigerian Bulletin.

JAMES GBANDE KNEELS AND APOLOGIZES TO GOVERNOR ORTOM OVER HERDSMEN - PHOTO CREDIT: BENUE.INFO

Hon. James Gbande, member representing Kwande East State Constituency of Benue state house of assembly, was made to kneel and apologize to Governor Samuel Ortom after he accused the governor of not doing enough to end the killings by Fulani herdsmen in his constituency.

2019: Buhari will not go for second term – Chekwas Okorie

The presidential candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP) in the 2015 presidential election, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has predicted that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not re-contest the Presidential election in 2019.

According to him, the APC will not give the presidency another shot because the party already knows it cannot be as fortunate as it was in 2015. Okorie said this in a chat with the media during the weekend.

Gambia: Jammeh vows not to step down

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh said he would not step down and condemned mediation by West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, that aims to get him to leave power after he lost a December 1 election to challenger Adama Barrow.

The comments on state television late on Tuesday were a hardening of the veteran president’s position after days in which hopes mounted he could be persuaded to hand over power at the end of his mandate on January 18 2017, when Mr. Barrow is due to be inaugurated.

Rodrigo Duterte: Philippines president calls US president Barack Obama a 'son of a bitch'

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to reporters before departing to Laos REUTERS/Lean Daval Jr

Controversial Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has labelled US counterpart Barack Obama a “son of a bitch” and warned him not to question his policy of extrajudicial killings. 

Since gaining power in June, Mr Duterte has engaged in a vicious war on drugs, which has seen around 2,400 people killed with impunity by hit squads, drawing international criticism.  

Ethiopian deaths in fire at prison 'holding Oromo protesters'

A TV station based outside Ethiopia broadcast footage of the fire, Photo Credit ESAT

An unknown number of inmates have died after a fire at an Ethiopian prison where prominent anti-government protesters are reportedly being held.

Sustained gunfire could be heard coming from Qilinto prison, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, after the fire broke out, local media reported.

The government confirms "some" deaths, while local media report that at least 20 people had died in the incident.

There has been an unprecedented wave of protests in Ethiopia in recent months.

Photos posted on social media on Saturday showed plumes of smoke rising from the prison compound.

Hajj stampede: Iranian leader attacks Saudi management

Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini

Iran's supreme leader has attacked Saudi Arabia's handling of the Hajj almost a year on since hundreds of pilgrims were killed in a stampede.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said because of Riyadh's "oppressive behaviour" the "world of Islam" should reconsider its management of the Hajj.

This year it begins on 11 September but Iranians will not participate.

The Hajj is an annual Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Saudi rulers, who have obstructed the path of Allah and have blocked the proud and faithful Iranian pilgrims' path to the Beloved's House, are disgraced and misguided people.

Dozens die in suicide bombings across Syrian

Soldiers and civilians inspect the site of a bombing in Tartus. Photograph: Sana/EPA

Dozens of people have been killed in an apparently coordinated string of bombings across government-held cities in Syria, as battles that have drawn in regional and international powers rage throughout an embattled country carved into competing spheres of influence.

Syrian state media said at least 40 people had died in six suicide bombings in the city of Homs in central Syria, the suburbs of Damascus, the suburbs of the coastal city of Tartus, and the Kurdish-controlled Hasakah city. Dozens more have been wounded.

Nigeria releases interim report on assets recovered from looters

Pic Credit Aljazeera

The Federal Government of Nigeria has released the statement below detailing assets recovered from corrupt officials of the past administration.

Read full statement below. 

The Federal Government made cash recoveries totaling N78,325,354,631.82 (Seventy eight billion, three hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and fifty-four thousand, six hundred and thirty one Naira and eighty two kobo); $185,119,584.61 (One hundred and eight five million, one hundred and nineteen thousand, five hundred and eighty four US dollars, sixty one cents); 3,508,355.46 Pounds Sterling (Three million, five hundred and eight thousand, three hundred and fifty-five Pounds and 46 Pence) and 11, 250 Euros (Eleven thousand, two hundred and fifty Euros) from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016.

In a statement in Lagos on Saturday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also disclosed that Recoveries Under Interim Forfeiture (cash and assets) during the period totaled N126,563,481,095.43 (One hundred and twenty six billion, five hundred and sixty three million, four hundred and eighty one thousand, and ninety five Naira, forty three Kobo; $9,090,243,920.15 (Nine billion, ninety million, two hundred and forty three thousand, nine hundred and twenty Dollars, fifteen cents; 2,484,447.55 Pounds Sterling (Two million, four hundred and eighty four thousand, four hundred and forty seven Pounds, fifty five Pence) and 303,399.17 Euros (Three hundred and three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine Euros, 17 cents ).

According to the statement, which is based on the interim report on the financial and assets recoveries made by the various government agencies from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016, the Funds Awaiting Return From Foreign Jurisdictions total $321,316,726.1 (Three hundred and twenty one million, three hundred and sixteen thousand, seven hundred and twenty six Dollars, one cent); 6,900,000 Pounds (Six million, nine hundred thousand Pounds) and 11,826.11 Euros (Eleven thousand, eight hundred and twenty six Euros, 11 cents).
It showed that Non-Cash Recoveries (Farmlands, Plots of Land, Uncompleted Buildings, Completed Buildings, Vehicles and Maritime Vessels) during the period total 239.

The following is the breakdown of the recovered cash and assets

Photo News: Lai Mohammed on HotFm Peoples Assembly

Lai Mohammed, Zandras, Joey and Rita. Photo Credit HotFm Nigeria

Nigerian Minister of information Lai Mohammed earlier this morning made a special appearance on HotFM 98.3 Abuja flagship programme “Peoples’ Assembly” where he clarified Federal Government stand on the present fuel crisis.
He also spoke about the strike action carried out by the Nigeria Labour union (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress counterpart (TUC)
Check out some of the pictures after the cut.

Bayelsa State workers begin strike over unpaid salaries

Bayelsa State Governor

Civil servants in Bayelsa State will on Thursday (today) proceed on an indefinite strike over months of salary arrears owed them by the state government.

This is just as the 21-day ultimatum issued by workers’ unions to the Bayelsa State Government to pay all outstanding salaries and allowances elapsed on Wednesday (yesterday).

The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had issued an ultimatum to the government on Thursday, April 28, 2016.

They had warned that at the end of the ultimatum, they would take an action against the government if it failed to comply with their demands.

State workers are currently owed four months’ salaries with pensioners being owed seven months’ arrears even as local government council workers are being owed 12 months’ unpaid salaries.

EFCC secure remand warrant to keep Fani-Kayode

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured a remand warrant to further detain ex-Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was detained on Monday over an alleged receipt of public funds to the tune of N840 million out of the N4 billion payout in the heat of the presidential election in 2015.

Ortom sacks Ogbadibo Council Chairman in Benue State

Following series of protests and complaints of gross incompetence against the Caretaker Chairman of Ogbadibo local government council, Oduma Paul Ojogbane, Governor Samuel Ortom has shown the chairman the way out.
Mr. Ojogbane, who was sworn in by the Governor July last year became rated as the worst Chairman the local government had ever produced.
“He would never call for meetings even in the face of crisis; he has brought rancour and disunity among the ranks and files of the party, and by extension, the stakeholders in the local government area; he has embarrassed this local government in many public functions where he intermittently fumbles due to lack of expression; in fact, he lacks public appearance and I wonder why he was chosen in the first place”, Mr. Onoja John, an Ogbadibo APC faithful opined.

APC Plots to Punish Senator Shehu Musa Over Criticisms of El Rufai

Strong reports have it that the leadership of the APC in Kaduna state has concluded to subject highly vocal Senator Shehu Sani to strict punishment after a protracted rift with the governor of the state.

The Kaduna Chapter of the All Progressives Congress appears to have concluded plans to suspend the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani from the party over the unresolved rift between him and Kaduna Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, according to P.M news.

Prepare Your Will – Dakuku Fires Warning Shot at Wike

It is a war of words between Rivers State Governor and the APC governorship candidate who is talking tough and urging the people to support him against the incumbent governor.

CASER calls for military inclusion in election process in Nigeria

Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights a nongovernmental organization says there is need for Nigeria’s Military to be part of Election process in the country, following the large scale violence that greeted the Bayelsa State governorship elections.

Nyensom Wike rejects Appeal Court ruling, heads to Supreme Court

Following the Appeal Court ruling that a fresh governorship election should be conducted in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, has directed his lawyers to appeal the judgement at the Supreme Court.