Use religion to campaign, pay N1m fine: INEC

Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission in Bauchi State has issued a stern warning to any political party using religion as part of their campaign, Vanguard reports.

The statement, made during an interactive session with stakeholders in local government, has warned parties that they will be issued with a N1 million or face a 12 month prison sentence should they use religion as a tactic during campaign season.

The warning comes hot on the heels of allegations made against politicians who allegedly threatened PDP supporters in Darazo Local Government, based on their choice of presidential candidate.

According to Emmanuel Umenger, INEC Administrative Secretary in the State, electioneering campaigns based on religious sentiments provided grounds for political parties to be prosecuted.

In addition, INEC Commissioner Hamman Tukur Sa'ad condemned the threatening of electorates, saying any such activity should be reported to authorities immediately.

He warned against violent political tactics and urged local government to stay out of the way of electoral process.

Read more at Vanguard

PDP slams APC over location of Buhari’s interview

Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted the All Progressives Congress for lying about about the location of General Buhari’s interview for the TV show ‘All Eyes on Africa, reports Leadership.
The party said the discovery that the interview was conducted in Abuja and not London has been peddled proves that the APC is a party founded and built on deceit.

Also read:
Femi Fani-Kayode, the spokesperson of the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), said If the APC can lie about the location of an ordinary interview, then it cannot be trusted with anything tangible.
He noted that if Buhari is unwell, it is only right for him to seek medical attention wherever he chooses.
Read more at Leadership.

Read more on: 2015 elections

Wizkid set to release collaboration with Chris Brown

2015-02-24 11:22
Lagos - Pop star, Wizkid has told  his fans that his single with Chris Brown will be out soon.
The song titled 'African Bad Girl' will likely be on Wizkid's third solo album under his own imprint Star Boy
 Wizkid on Monday took to his Twitter to give an update on the track.

According to the pop star, the song has already been mixed, and will be out anytime soon.
 "Chris brown x Wizkid! Done mixing! Oya na!!! we ready to go live soon!" he tweeted.
The pair first met in 2013 in a studio in Los Angeles.

Obasanjo’s exit, death warrant for PDP – Kwankwaso

Olusegun Obasanjo. (File: AFP)

 

Kano - Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has described the exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a death warrant to the party, reports Thisday.
He said Obasanjo’s exit signified that the death warrant of the party is about to be signed.

He stated that the five governors who defected  to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were vindicated for seeing the futility in remaining in the PDP that had lost credibility and steam.

Kwankwaso, who was speaking to newsmen in his office in Kano, said the PDP is on road to extinction in the face of the abysmal rot rocking its leadership.

Read more at Thisday.

Read more on: 2015 elections

INEC, security agencies parley on rescheduled polls

Abuja - Ahead of general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies met on Tuesday to assess the level of security for the general elections, reports Punch.

Monday’s meeting was aimed at assessing the level of security attained that could make the polls to go ahead as rescheduled.

The meeting specifically assessed the security situations in the North-East in view of recent successes recorded by the military against the insurgents.

Majority of the security chiefs presented at the meeting canvassed for the deployment of the military for the elections in spite of widespread condemnation against it.

Read more at Punch.

Read more on: 2015 elections

Anti-Boko Haram Nigerian activist wins Japan peace prize

2015-02-24 10:05
Tokyo - A Nigerian woman who has campaigned against Islamist extremists Boko Haram was on Tuesday awarded a Japanese peace prize worth $170 000 (about N3 409 350).

Esther Ibanga, a pastor and activist in Nigeria, has kept up a vocal protest against the kidnappings that Boko Haram has made almost routine, the Niwano Peace Foundation said.

The foundation said it had awarded her its 20 million yen annual prize because of the way she has tirelessly pressured central and local governing officials in her efforts to fight back against extremists.

"Esther has worked extensively to foster and facilitate reconciliation between conflicting religious and tribal groups," setting up an organisation that has all tribal women leaders on its membership, the Buddhist group-backed foundation said.

Boko Haram fighters have kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls, causing global outrage and a social media campaign to release them.

Over 13 000 have been killed while more than one million people have been left homeless since 2009.

- AFP

Army unearthes terrorists posing as women in Baga

By: Augustine Osayande  
2015-02-24 08:59
Abuja - The Defence Forces disclosed the cordon and search operations in Baga, Borno State have revealed some terrorists disguisied as women.

“The searches are also yielding more discoveries of arms especially bombs hidden in various locations, especially Baga town.  Apart from those captured in the course of fighting, many arrests of terrorists hiding in the town are being made and troops are still busy interrogating the suspects,” Major General Chris Olukalade, the Director Defence Information, said.

Meanwhile, in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves by the military, the Nigerian Air Force has stepped up its air bombardment of identified targets in Gwoza, Bama and Sambisa forest, in preparation to other phases of the mission.

“The air strikes have been highly successful as they achieved the aims, hitting vital targets with required precision. Terrorists are now in disarray as they scamper to escape from the impact of air bombardment of their locations in the forest,” read a statement.

Having successfully liberated Baga where the terrorists have been marauding, the troops’ attention has now been focused on consolidation of the security of the area to pave way for return of citizens, Olukalade stated.

- CAJ News