SABINEWS MORNING NEWS UPDATE – MARCH 24, 2018
Am still in charge – Oyetola
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 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the September 22, 2018 governorship election.
APC wins Lagos assembly rerun
The All Progressives Congress candidate for the Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I of Lagos State, Mr Mojeed Fatai, has been declared winner of the rerun held on Saturday. The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the exercise, Prof Rasheed Ojikutu, declared Fatai the winner of the exercise having secured 9,484 votes to defeat his rival of the People’s Democratic Party, Tari Oliver, who got 1,901 votes. Ojikutu stated that out of a total of 122,442 registered voters, only 12,245 were accredited for the exercise. The exercise was said to have witnessed low turnout as voters came out in few numbers to the nine polling units where the elections held.
Supplementary polls: APC, PDP battle for Sokoto, Ganduje leads in Kano
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State was leading his main challenger, Abba Yusuf of the People’s Democratic Party, in Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in the state. The results of eight out of the 28 local government areas where the election took place showed that Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress had polled 6,473 votes while his opponent scored 970 votes as of 10pm. In the March 9 poll declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the APC polled 987, 819 votes while the PDP had 1,014, 474 votes. While the collation of votes was ongoing, a representative of the PDP raised an objection, describing the poll process as a disservice to democracy.
If Buhari went to court thrice without reasonable cause, Atiku should go too — Obasanjo
Obasanjo said this in a statement he personally signed, dated March 23, 2019 and titled ‘Statement by Olusegun Obasanjo on the judgement of the Osun governorship election petitions tribunal, Dubai.” The statement was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday. The former president argued that if Buhari had challenged his defeat in three previous presidential contests before his 2015 victory, Atiku should not be dissuaded from contesting his loss at the election tribunal. He equally berated those who had called on his former deputy not to challenge his defeat at the tribunal, tagging them “evil minds.”
Speaker: Gbajabiamila, Namdas, 13 others in hot race, PDP plans opposition candidate
No fewer than 15 members of the House of Representatives are currently in a hot race to replace Mr. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House when the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated in June, 2019. While some of them have openly declared their intention to occupy the number one seat in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, others are said to have been lobbying their colleagues underground. Some of the aspirants, during the week, said they were delaying the declaration of their ambitions pending the time the ruling All Progressives Congress, which has retained the majority in the House, zoned the leadership positions.
Benue supplementary election: Gboko Returning Officer shot
Unknown gunmen on Saturday shot and wounded the Returning Officer of Gboko Local Government Area, Prof T. Dooshima. An eye-witness, Mr. Issac Utom, told journalists in Makurdi that the Prof, an unnamed Electoral Officer for the LG and the driver were in the vehicle with registration number, FG 273 UO1 when the attack occurred. He added that Dooshima sustained injuries and had been admitted in a hospital. According to him, the INEC officials were on their way from Gboko to Makurdi when they were attacked. He said, “Around 6pm after the EO and Returning Officer of Gboko declared the winner of the constituency, they arranged everything, we moved from Gboko to Makurdi around 9pm. “On our way to Makurdi some group of men, armed thugs started shooting at the INEC vehicle that was conveying the materials to Makurdi.
Supplementary polls: Accept outcome in good faith, Lalong’s spokesman tells candidates
As voters in affected states await the results of the rerun polls that would determine their governors, Mr. Pam Dung Gyang, Director-General of Governor Simon Lalong’s campaign team, has urged politicians to accept the voters’ verdict. Gyang told the News Agency of Nigeria, on Saturday in Jos that democracy will be deepened if the people are allowed to determine who should lead them. The campaign official, who expressed confidence that the governor will secure a second tenure after the results of the supplementary elections would have been declared, said that losers in the elections would not be left out of the victory celebrations.
9th Assembly: Ubah backs Lawan for Senate President
Anambra South Senator-elect, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, has pinched tent with a group of elected lawmakers in the incoming 9th Senate led by Sen. Ahmed Lawan. Elected under the Young Progressives Party (YPP) on Feb. 23, Ubah is one of the 11 senators-elect who were with Lawan at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja. Lawan, who represents Yobe North in the 8th Senate under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking to lead the 9th Assembly as President of the Senate.
Supplementary poll: Lalong closer to victory in Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong is in clear lead going by results announced from most of the 40 polling units where supplementary election held on Saturday in Plateau State. The only polling unit in Shendam LGA where Lalong hails from has been won by APC. The result from Gung Polling Unit in Shendam LGA shows APC polled 337 while PDP got just 80 votes. APC was also victorious in all the polling units in Mangu ward and the four polling units of Kanam LGA. The ruling party recorded similar victory in Bokkos local government of the state.
PDP’s Ortom leads in Benue South
Governor Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in the lead based on results from some polling units in Benue South where supplementary election held. His main challenger, Barrister Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is however maintaining a close distance. At the Ejule-Adupi polling unit 006 in Ward 1 of Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, the APC polled 42 votes to PDP’S 66 votes. At Okwungaga polling unit in Ogbadigbo LGA, the PDP scored 234 leaving APC with just 19 votes. In Ehaje ward 1 in Ogbadigbo LGA at Ukwo 1 polling unit 005 PDP got 101 votes leaving the APC with 44 votes just as at Ukwo 2 polling unit 006, the PDP scored 39 votes and APC 17 votes. In Onaje polling unit at Ugboju-icho in Otukpo LGA, the PDP got 69 votes to APC’s 67.
Policeman arrested for allegedly raping woman at ATM point
A policeman who allegedly raped a woman at an Automated Teller Machine point at night in a bank in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has been arrested. The state Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, confirmed the arrest to our correspondent in a telephone call on Friday, adding that the suspect had been detained. Ladodo said, “Soon after the police received a complaint of the alleged rape from the victim, operatives were dispatched and the suspect was quickly arrested and detained.” He, however, said preliminary investigation had yet to establish a case of rape.
Fire razes building in Kano
The Kano State Fire Service on Saturday evening said that fire razed an entire building at France Road, adjacent Zenith Bank in Sabon Gari area of the metropolis. Spokesman of the Service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the fire started at about 05:07 p.m. “We received a distress call from police officer ,Malam Kabiru Umar this evening (Saturday) at about 05:07 p.m. that there was a fire outbreak at a dwelling/store house.
Euro 2020 qualifiers: Switzerland survive difficult first half to beat Georgia 2-0
witzerland survived a difficult first half and overcame the absence of forwards Xherdan Shaqiri and Haris Seferovic to beat Georgia 2-0 away in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Saturday. Second half goals from Bundesliga-based Steven Zuber and Denis Zakaria ended Georgia’s unbeaten home run of eight matches as the Swiss ultimately ran out comfortable winners in the Group D match. Switzerland, playing their first match since their stunning 5-2 UEFA Nations League win over Belgium in November, struggled to create chances in the first half.
Mourinho eyes management comeback and third Champions League
Jose Mourinho is gunning for a return to top level management and a third Champions League title, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager revealed on Friday in an interview with AFP. Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by United in December and said he would like to be appointed as a boss at a club where he can add to his European triumphs with Porto in 2003 and Inter Milan seven years later, and draw level with Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley. “If I can win a third Champions League, great,” the 56-year-old told AFP.
Ali Bongo back in Gabon after long illness abroad
President Ali Bongo Ondimba flew home to Gabon Saturday after several months in Morocco recovering from illness. He flew back into Libreville on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by his wife Sylvia, to be welcomed by Prime Minister Julien Nkoghe Bekale and senior members of the government. Several thousand people also turned out at the airport to greet the president after the ruling Democratic Party announced his return and called for a warm reception. They were marshalled by a strong police presence.
No visitors for accused NZ mosque shooter
The Australian man accused of killing 50 people in an attack on two mosques in Christchurch has been transferred from the city. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, is now believed to be being held at Paremoremo, the maximum security section of Auckland Prison. “We worked closely with other agencies to securely transfer this prisoner into Corrections custody following his appearance in court in Christchurch,” a Corrections spokeswoman confirmed on Sunday. Tarrant had been held at the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct in Christchurch, a compound encompassing the police station and courts.
A 15 minute look at the new Chromium-powered Microsoft Edge browser
Microsoft can’t seem to keep a lid on their new Edge browser, and after the Verge posted a hands-on impression from a leaked build the WC. At first impression, the browser appears relatively complete, and already appears to be improved in many areas over the existing Edge browser. There are of course some elements missing, and Zac notes that not all old Edge features will make it to the new browser, as their porting will depend on their current popularity. The updated browser will be hitting insiders in a few weeks, and will eventually roll out widely on multiple platforms to Microsoft users.
Mozilla optimizes its firefox browser for the iPad
While our tablets might be viewed simply as larger phones, the fact of the matter is that they’re more than that. This is because while they might share a similar operating system, how we use our phones versus our tablets are very different, and as such apps designed for tablets are simply more than just scaled up versions of phone apps. Mozilla knows this and has since announced an update to their Firefox app for the iPad where they have optimized it for the tablet.
