AMBODE SHOOTS AHEAD IN LAGOS

Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progres¬sives Congress, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode shot into early lead with the results an¬nounced at polling stations in some lo¬cal government areas after voting yester¬day.
Ambode took a nar¬row lead over the Peoples Democratic Party’s can¬didate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.
The results announced in 1,754 polling units as at the time of filing this report stood at APC – 148,563, PDP – 109,900.

PDP DEFECTORS WON’T BE MINISTERS IN MY GOVT-BUHARI

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nothing to fear over mass defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to the party.
"I have no fears of PDP defectors," he said in an interview in his Daura residence on Saturday.

Buhari said the PDP chieftains will have very little influence in the APC government.
He said APC has all the capacity to manage the large numbers of PDP defectors.
"The people who are defecting will only have influence in their constituencies. Since their constituencies are now controlled by the APC their influence is therefore limited," he said.
Though the president-elect said only the party can handle the issue of defections, he said the PDP bigwigs will be wise enough not to jostle for positions in the new government.
"I hope the people that are defecting will accept the fact that they are joining the people who succeeded. So, I don't think they will just come and say they want to be ministers next month simply because they were ministers before," he said.

APC DENOUNCES DEFECTIONS, SAYS PDP POLITICIANS SHOULD STAY IN THEIR PARTY

John Oyegun, the national chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), said on Saturday that the gale of defections by politicians was not good for Nigeria’s political development.
Mr. Oyegun, who spoke to newsmen in Benin shortly after casting his vote, advised those defecting to the winning party to rather form a formidable opposition to enrich the nation’s democracy.
“Many opposition party members have defected to APC just because they lost out, that is not good for political development.
“One would have advised that opposition members should stay where they are, and form a formidable opposition party.” Mr. Oyegun said.

BUHARI ON POLLS: I WILL PROSECUTE ELECTORAL OFFENDERS

Nigeria’s president-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has said that electoral offenders must not go unpunished.
To mete out punishment on such people, he said he would encourage the setting up of a special court to first prosecute them.
He said that although he had not fully read the report of Justice Mohammed Uwais Committee’s Report on Electoral Reforms, he intended to to so and extract recommendations that could help the system.
He added that he would seek the cooperation of the National Assembly for a comprehensive overhaul of the system.
The late President Umaru Musa Yar”Adua had set up the committee, later known as Uwais Committee, in 2008, to reform the Nigeria’s electoral system.

AMBODE: YOUTHS THREATEN TO RAZE AKIOLU’S PALACE

Some youths in Isale-Eko area of Lagos Island, on Saturday threatened to burn down the palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, if the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwumi Ambode, loses the governorship election.
Some of the youths who gathered outside the Iga Idungaran palace of the monarch said the statement credited to Oba Akiolu where he threatened Igbos in the state with death if they voted against Ambode may have swayed votes in favour of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje.
One of the youths, named Wasiu, said the only saving grace for Oba Akiolu is for Ambode to emerge victorious at the end of the exercise.

A Special Broadcast by Obiano: Time to Secure Our Future with Our Votes

Time to Secure Our Future with Our Votes

Being the text of a Special Broadcast on the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly Elections by the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano on Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

Ndi Anambra ekenem unu.

As you prepare to cast your votes in the House of Assembly Election this Saturday, I want to thank you once again for standing behind me and voting for APGA in the National Assembly Election that took place the previous Saturday. Although the outcome of the exercise was hijacked at the collation stages, actual results from the polling booths have shown that you voted massively for APGA. From your votes, I am happy to note that you deeply appreciate all our efforts to build a stronger and more prosperous Anambra State. Umu nnem, daalunu!

Ex-gov Obi’s Aide Chided for Lies Against Obiano

The Media Assistant to the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Val Obienyem has been advised to treat the office of the Governor of Anambra State with the respect it deserves.
Addressing newsmen in Awka, Thursday on what he termed the “Wild Accusations from Governor Peter Obi’s Media Aide – Setting the Records Straight,’’ the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano, Hon James Eze pointed at the comments in some national dailies attributed to Obienyem, the alleging that the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has been tarnishing former Governor Obi’s image.

Ekwunife Urges Umeh to Accept Defeat ...Rejects APC

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The senator-elect for Anambra Central senatorial district and incumbent member representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia federal constituency, Hon. (Mrs) Uche Ekwunife has urged the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Anambra Central senatorial zone, Chief Sir Victor Umeh to imbibe the spirit of Sportsmanship by accepting defeat in just concluded national assembly elections in Anambra.

Hon. Ekwunife who stated this yesterday in Awka during a media chat, said she won that election on account of her robust and issue based campaigns as well her past records as a lawmaker. She noted that while she was busy campaigning vigorously others resorted to campaign of calumny.

Ekwunife assured that she would continue to push for that which would benefit the poor masses while advising the losers to throw-in the towel and support her emergence.

Commenting on issue of PDP being a minority party, she described her party as sweet minority noting that winning  45 seats was by no way a mean feat. According to her, PDP was  still a party to reckoned with noting that her party had more spread than any political party in Nigeria.

Her words, ' I served my people well. I am not surprised that they voted massively for me.  You need to see how they used to welcome me everywhere I go. We all met at different functions and each time I am called upon to talk a lot people will be hailing me. In fact, If that election is to be conducted 100 times; I will still win 100 times. I am far better than Umeh.

AMAECHI ACCUSES FIRST LADY OF PLOTTING TO RIG ELECTIONS

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has accused the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, of putting pressure on the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Gesila Khan, to rig the tomorrow’s election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Congress (PDP).
Amaechi said the first lady, who arrived Port Harcourt on Wednesday, has been holding series of meetings with senior officers in the security agencies including the resident electoral commissioner on the elections.
The governor spoke yesterday at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, while addressing stakeholders on how to approach Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections.

Mandela: Celebrating 25 years of his release.

New App makes walking in the footsteps of Madiba even more accessible 

The “Madiba-inspired tourist attractions” map, developed last year by South African Tourism in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, has been developed into a mobile phone App to further enhance visitors’ experiences 

Tourists and South Africans seeking out sites and attractions associated with the late South African President and global icon, Nelson Mandela, will now have all the information they need at their fingertips thanks to a new mobile phone App developed by South African Tourism in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.  This is in commemoration of the 25^th anniversary of the former President’s release from prison.