Breaking News in Nigeria Today January 8th 2019

Breaking News: Police Says Senator Melaye is fit and INEC Ready to Train 1m People. Keep reading iDonsabi for more…

1. Atiku Condemns Military Invasion of Daily Trust Offices

Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has condemned the invasion of Daily Trust offices on Sunday by the military. He likened it to an attack on the rights and freedom of Nigerians.

Atiku spoke against the arrest of the Newspaper’s northern regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab.

In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku called on President Buhari to do everything possible to guarantee press freedom before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

In his words, “This is a travesty, the likes of which we have not seen since the heinous days of military rule. Atiku Abubakar and other pro-democrats did not risk their lives fighting for democracy for this to happen”.

2. Buhari Plans to Use Zakari to ‘Steal’ Election — Ezekwesili

The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has asked the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mamoud Yakubu, “and the Presidency to reverse this shameful posting immediately and safeguard the integrity of the 2019 elections. “

Reacting to the appointment of Amina Zakari as a CollationChief, Mrs Ezekwesili, in a press statement on Saturday, said, “The INEC chairman appears to have bowed to pressure from the Presidency.” She said Mrs Zakari’s appointment was political corruption, “considering that having a relation of the President who is a contestant in the February 2019 presidential election amounts to an apparent Conflict-of-Interest situation.”

3. INEC Ready to Train 1m Personnel for 2019 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is ready to train the one million electoral staff and ad-hoc personnel needed for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Mr. Solomon Soyebi, Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI) disclosed this on Monday in Calabar.

He explained that 850,000 electoral personnel would be trained as polling unit officials, while another 150,000 would consist of Civil Society Organizations and officials of security agencies officials. ‘‘With just about 39 days to the first election and about 53 days to the second one, it is very important that we train our people adequately, he announced.

4. ASUU Warns OAU to Continue Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, against conducting examinations when 70 per cent of courses have not been taught students.

The university called back its students to school on Monday and scheduled the examinations to start on January 14.

But members of ASUU at the university, called by their national body, said the examinations would be “null and void” if conducted and warned students against participating in the examinations.

According to ASUU, a minimum of 12 weeks teaching, one compulsory lecture-free week and two weeks of examination as provided by the university regulations had not been adhered to.

READ ALSO >> ASUU: The True Story <<

5. ASUU Insists On Strike As State University Resumes

Yobe State University Damaturu on Monday opened for academic activities despite the ongoing nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Dr. Kalli Alkali Yusuf Gazali, Registrar of the university, had released a signed internal circular on 24th December, 2018 mandating the commencement of academic activities on 7th January, 2019. The circular was addressed to the Provost, Deans, Directors and Head of Departments

However, when contacted on the position of the union as regards to the resumption considering that its strike was yet to be called off, the ASUU branch chairman of the university, Mohammed Adamu Gulani replied as saying, “our position is still same as ASUU National”.

He expressed optimism that members of the union will not breach the union’s trust. He said the absolute unity among ASUU members is still intact.

6. President Buhari Inaugurates APC’s Presidential Campaign Council

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council.

Buhari, while inaugurating the council at the International Conference Centre, ICC, in Abuja, put the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, in full charge of his re-election campaign.

Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation was inaugurated into the Presidential Campaign Council, despite the emergence of a recording that tried to work against him but obviously did not hold much water on the part of the president.

READ ALSO >> Amaechi Calls Buhari an Ignoramus in New Recording <<

7. INEC Officially Announce Number Of Registered Voters

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has officially announced the number of registered voters to participate in the 2019 general elections.

According to the electoral body, eighty-four million, four thousand and eighty four (84, 004 084) Nigerians were registered to cast their votes in the forthcoming elections.

INEC, on its Twitter handle on Monday afternoon, also said it has handed the National Register of Voters to the political parties participating in the elections.

8. Nigerian Air Force Announces Burial Date of Fallen Heroes

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has on Monday announced the date for the burial of five crew members, who died in the MI-35 helicopter crash at Damask, Borno State  while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion on the 2nd of January, 2019.

The funeral will take place on January 8 at the National Military Cemetery, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Way, Abuja.

The five crew members are: Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob (Pilot in Command), Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas (Co-Pilot), Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim (Flight Technician), Lance Corporal Adamu Nura (Gunner) and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael (Gunner).

READ ALSO >> Nigerian Air force Carry out Operation in Zamfara <<

9. Tinubu is in Charge Of My Campaign – Buhari Declares

President Muhammadu Buhari has given full charge of his re-election campaign for 2019 election to the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He made the announcement while launching the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Abuja International Conference Center on Monday.

In his words, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my co-chairman will be fully in charge and is going to be on 24-hour vigil.”

He, however, assured that he will participate fully in the campaign.

10. Police Says Dino Melaye is Fit and Only Acting Drama

The Nigeria Police Force has declared the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye fit to face trial.

The Police said it arrived at the conclusion after several test conducted on the Senator came out negative adding that it was an indication that the Senator was not medically challenged as he claimed. They also said Dino was only acting Nigerian Home Video Part 2.

But Melaye urged the police to relocate him to National hospital after three days of treatment at Police hospital in Garki, Abuja.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *