Tag: 2023 ELECTIONS

ABUJA-KADUNA TRAIN ATTACK : SEVEN MORE ABDUCTEES RELEASED

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in CRIME/SECURITY

Seven more hostages have been freed by the terrorists that attacked the AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers on March 28.

A family of six and a sick woman were the persons released.

The disclosure was made by Tukur Mamu, Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and Media Consultant to Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

Mamu said the seven were released following the intervention of his principal, Gumi.

The identities of the released family of six are Abdubakar Idris Garba, his wife, Maryam Abubakar Bobo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, who’s 10 years old.

Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba (7), Imran Abubakar Garba (5), and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba, who is only one and half years old.

 A 60-year-old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan, was also reportedly released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.

So far, 42 victims have regained their freedom. The number of those still in captivity now stands at 35.

#KUJE #BUHARI #ENDASUUSTRIKE #TINUBU #BBNAIJA

TERRORISTS AMBUSH AIG’S CONVOY

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in CRIME/SECURITY

 The convoy of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 12 with Headquarters, Bauchi, Audu Madaki ,  has been attacked by gunmen , leaving him injured and one of his guards dead .

The AIG was reportedly on his way to the FCT from Bauchi ,when the gunmen attacked him.

A source at the Zone 12 headquarters disclosed that AIG Audu Madaki was shot at and injured during the attack while his Orderly was shot dead.

Security has been beefed up around the zone as the AIG continues to receive treatment at an undisclosed health facility.

Armed police agents have been deployed to the area on a hunt to arrest the perpetrators .

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Thomas Gonihas has not commented on the incident as at the time of filing this report.

#TINUBU #JARUMA #INSECURITY #KANO  #ENDASUUSTRIKE #BBNAIJA #BUHARI

LAGOS PDP NAMED FUNKE AKINDELE DEPUTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has named Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele as deputy governorship candidate of Lagos State.

With this position, she had become the running mate of the PDP Lagos State governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor.

Akindele  confirmed her deputy governorship candidacy in a video on her verified Instagram page on Tuesday.

In the video she posted on Tuesday, she revealed her reasons for becoming a running mate.

She said, “I saw it as an opportunity to help liberate and improve the wellbeing of our people, particularly the deprived youth, women and the girl child.

“My decision is not just to accept this huge responsibility but to also work tirelessly and complement Jandor’s burning desire to see our dear Lagos live up to its full potentials.”

Meanwhile, when she said her name at the end of the video, the Ikorodu-born indigene of Lagos didn’t include her husband’s name, Bello.

This comes two weeks after her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, announced that they have gone their separate ways.

The actress, however, has remained silent on her separation from her husband as she is yet to address Bello’s claims.

Bello, who confirmed the separation in an Instagram post on July 1, said things had not been going well between him and the actress in the last two years, adding that all efforts expended on reconciling their differences had proved abortive.

(c) Globetelly

TINUBU ANNOUNCES SHETTIMA AS RUNNING MATE

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has announced Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the 2023 general elections.

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State briefed reporters about the choice at the end of a close-door meeting that lasted about an hour with President Mohammadu Buhari at his residence.

He made the announcement on Sunday in Daura, the hometown of the President in Katsina State.

According to the APC stalwart, Shettima was selected because the former Borno State governor is “competent, capable, reliable and able to be picked as a running mate”.

The APC presidential candidate was accompanied to Daura by Governor Aminu Masari shortly after his aircraft landed at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina State.

Reacting to the development, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), described Senator Kashim Shetima as a worthy choice of a running mate to Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Mr Keyamo was of the opinion that Tinubu had made a great choice.

The minister who aired his view on Twitter, described Shettima as a “Quintessential banker and economist, suave gentleman and politician,” who is intellectually fertile and economically sound.

He further stated  that the former Borno governor is “inter-generationally mobile (he’s young, yet experienced), fiercely loyal, phenomenally complimentary to Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.

“Kashim Shettima is the perfect choice as VP,” Keyamo declared.

In a chain of reactions to the announcement of Shettima as VP to Tinubu, Mr Ibrahim Masari, who initially was picked as vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has resigned.

In a communique on Sunday, Masari, a former National Welfare Secretary of the APC, stated that after much reflection and wider consultations, he is now going to step down.

“I realized that my decision will enable Asiwaju have more latitude to give more accommodation and inclusion that will position our party to win the coming elections, with the support of the people of Nigeria.

“In stepping down, I believe I can still serve our party and the country in several other capacities.

“I wish to confirm that I have submitted my withdrawal letter and affidavit to that effect as the Vice Presidential Candidate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TInubu in the coming elections,” Masari disclosed.

Masari thanked Asiwaju Tinubu for the trust vested in him, and promise that he and his family will remain steadfast in their support for the APC presidential flagbearer and the party.

(c) Globetelly

TERRORISTS BOMB KUJE PRISON

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in CRIME/SECURITY

There was unease in the Kuje area of Abuja on Tuesday night with residents hearing explosions and gunfire around Kuje Prison .

The prison reportedly came under attack when a bomb went off followed by two more explosions.

Gunfire also reportedly lasted for about 20 minutes.

A resident of the area, Joshua Friday, told correspondents that the shootings have been ongoing for the last 20 minutes.

He said, “Currently in Kuje and the shooting has been going on for almost 20 minutes now. I can’t tell you what is happening whether it is a robbery or not but we have been hearing that gunshots repeatedly around the area the prison is located. We are all scared as I speak to you. ”

A staff of the prison reportedly confirmed the attack saying the attackers came from the back of the prison.

The spokesperson of the Custodial Centre,Umar Abubakar, has confirmed the attack , adding that the terrorists were repelled by the security agents.

“I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.

#ABBAKYARI #PRESIDENTBUHARI #ENDASUUSTRIKE #NIGERIANPOLICE #OBIDIENT

ATTACKERS TORCH INEC OFFICE, DESTROY 748 BALLOT BOXES

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

ATTACKERS TORCH INEC OFFICE, DESTROY 748 BALLOT BOXES

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC ) building in Igboeze North Local Government Area office in Enugu state has been attacked. 

The National Commissioner of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye confirmed the attack.

According to him, no casualties were reported  but 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles and other equipment were destroyed.

In his words, “the arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises, and set the building ablaze”

He revealed that the commission was working to ascertain the status of voter registration machines for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), as well as uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), locked up in the fireproof cabinet.

The Commissioner stated that the attack coming in the middle of the voter registration exercise and other preparations for the 2023 general elections is worrisome.

He recalled that on May 23, 2021, the INEC office in the neighboring Igboeze South Local Government Area was attacked in a similar manner by gunmen.

Other onslaughts he recollected were former attacks on the Udenu Local Government Area office on May 13, 2021, and the State Headquarters in Enugu on May 16, 2021.

Okoye revealed that the  commission had since substantially recovered from the attacks and resumed normal activities in the places mentioned, including the CVR and collection of PVCs.

He assured that the commission would continue to work with the security agencies and the emergency services to protect the commission’s facilities.

The National Commissioner made it known that in this latest attack, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu state, Emeka Ononamadu, reported that the office was set ablaze by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at 11.48 pm on Sunday

APPEAL COURT VACATES JUDGEMENT VOIDING 84(12) OF ELECTORAL ACT.

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

The judgement of a three-man panel of justices led by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka has been vacated by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, over a void in the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which disregarded Mr. Nduka Edede decision to   institute the verdict. 

The appellant Court, noted that Edede had failed to establish the cause of action that warranted him to approach the court on the issue citing that the plaintiff couldn’t prove how he was affected by the section of the newly amended Electoral Act. 

The appellate Court upheld that the said provision of the Electoral law was unconstitutional because it is in breach of Section 42 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, pointing out that a class of Nigerian citizens would be denied their rights to participate in election. 

The judgment followed an appeal marked: CA/OW/87/2022, which was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The high Court in Umuahia had establish in March the striking out of section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 ordering that it should be deleted by the Attorney-General of the Federation for being inconsistent with the Constitution, a compliance was thereafter followed by the the AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, barely 24 hours after the judgement was pronounced. 

President Muhammadu Buhari had some reservations about the Electoral Act Amendment Bill where some portion of the Electoral law had some discriminatory contents which specified that the Electoral Act, 2022 made it compulsory that political office holders must first resign before he/she could vie for any elective position. 

It reads: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

JONATHAN DENIES NORTHERN GROUP, REJECTS #100M FORM

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has denied  authorising the purchase of the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as he rejected the form bought for him on Monday by a group of northern supporters.

His spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze declared that the former President does not have any link to the Nothern coalition.

“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the name of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” according to the statement.

“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it.

“We want to state that if the former President wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door.

“While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians for Dr. Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 presidential election, we wish to state that he has not, in anyway, committed himself to this request.

“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name of Dr. Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person. The general public is therefore advised to disregard it.”

Jonathan was elected President in 2011 after completing the tenure of his predecessor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who died in office.

While contesting election for a second term in office in 2015, he was defeated by President Mohammadu Buhari.

(c) Globetelly

ASUU EXTENDS STRIKE BY TWELVE WEEKS

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has extended the ongoing strike by twelve weeks.

The president of the union, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke revealed this in a statement  issued after an emergency National Executive Committee meeting of the association at the University of Abuja.

The ASUU president made it known that the government was yet to resolve all the outstanding issues with the lecturers.

According to him, the extension is to give the government another chance to live up to its responsibilities and speedily address all the issues raised in the 2020 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of understanding. 

The roll-over strike action is with effect from Monday, 9th May 2022.

NORTHERN SUPPORT GROUP PURCHASES APC PRESIDENTIAL FORM FOR JONATHAN

by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

Former President Goodluck Jonathan may have joined the presidential race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Support groups from the north picked the All Progressives Congress presidential election expression of interest and nomination forms for him on Monday.

The former President is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and has not officially defected to the APC.

A few weeks ago, when some of his supporters persuaded him to declare for the presidency at his office, he had said they should watch out.

Jonathan was elected President in 2011 after completing the tenure of his predecessor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who died in office.

While contesting election for a second term in office in 2015, he was defeated by President Mohammadu Buhari.

(c) Globetelly