Jonathan admits APC poses a threat to his re-election

President Goodluck Jonathan. (File: AFP)

 

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that the All Progressives Congress poses a threat to his re-election bid, reports The Nation.

He admitted that it will be tougher for him to win the election now than it was in 2011.
Despite the threat, he, however said he was not worried about the possible outcome of the forthcoming presidential election.

President Jonathan, who was answering questions on an  African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Kaakaki on Thursday, noted that those who defected from the PDP) gave the APC the strength it currently enjoys.

He stated that if former PDP members were to leave the APC, it would crumble like a pack of cards.
Read more at The Nation.
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New political party seeks shift in polls dates

Abuja - The newly registered political party, the Young Democratic Party (YDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to either accommodate the party in the forthcoming general elections or reschedule the elections, reports Leadership.

Stating its position in Abuja after an emergency meeting on Thursday, the party said the court had ordered INEC to issue it a certificate and include YDP among the parties contesting the 2015 general elections.

Ugo Nwofo, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said the party is ready for the 2015 election.
He noted that INEC has no option than to reprint its ballot papers to accommodate its candidates for elective positions.
Read more at Leadership.
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Boko Haram kills 74 men, 20 kids for refusing to join group

2015-03-06 13:21
Abuja - Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed 74 men and 20 children for refusing to join the Islamist group, daily Vanguard reported on Friday.

The killings occurred in Njaba in the north-east.

There was no official confirmation of the attack, but a security source said the witness accounts quoted by the paper were credible.

Boko Haram has killed more than 13 000 people since 2009 in Nigeria.

- SAPA

Canada condemns terror attack in Borno

2015-03-06 12:14
Abuja - Canada Foreign Affairs Minister, Rob Nicholson, has voiced his country's outrage at the ongoing terror perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect.

A statement his office made available followed reports of the killing of dozens of civilians in northeastern Nigeria.

“Canada condemns the killings in the town of Njaba in Borno State. On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Nicholson, the Niagara Falls MP, said.

He said his country was outraged.

“We are appalled by the ongoing violence by Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people.”

- CAJ News

ISIS militants bulldoze ancient Nimrud city – govt

2015-03-06 13:22
Baghdad - Islamic State fighters have looted and bulldozed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, the government and a local tribal source said.

The destruction at Nimrud came a week after the radical Islamist militants released a video showing them destroying Assyrian era statues and sculptures in the city of Mosul, which they seized in June last year.

"Islamic State members came to the Nimrud archaeological city and looted the valuables in it and then they proceeded to level the site to the ground," the tribal source from near Mosul, where ancient Nimrud is located, told Reuters.

"There used to be statues and walls as well as a castle that Islamic State has destroyed completely."
Iraq's Ministry of Tourism said the Islamic State militants were defying the world with their destruction of antiquities.

"They assaulted the ancient city of Nimrud and bulldozed it with heavy machinery, appropriating the archaeological attractions dating back 13 centuries BC," it said in a statement issued late on Thursday.

- Reuters

Father Mbaka hits Jonathan again

Enugu - Fiery Catholic priest and founder of the highly regarded Enugu-based Adoration Ministries, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has again attacked President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mbaka in his latest sermon defended his earlier criticism of President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party led government.

He said he stands by his initial criticism of the President.
He said Jonathan and his cohorts know that he is saying the truth, noting that they are angry with him for saying it.

In the video, Mbaka denied ever meeting the presidential candidate of the All progressives Congress APC, Muhammadu Buhari.

He asked all those who have given his church money but are now angry with him to please forward their account details so he can return whatever money they had given to him.

APC youths threaten mass action over Jega's sack

Abuja -Youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the Presidency against the alleged move to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, reports Thisday.

They threatened  to occupy Aso Rock and other major cities in the country if Jega is removed or elections are not held on March 28.

The youth leaders spoke on Thursday during  a strategy meeting in Abuja attended by the zonal and state APC youth leaders from across Nigeria.

Shehu Marshal, APC’s youth leader  for North-west geopolitical zone, accused the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of interfering with the electoral process.

He noted that the March 28 and April 11 election dates should remain sacrosanct otherwise, APC youths will occupy Aso Rock and other major cities in Nigeria.
Read more at Thisday.
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