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The Nigerian government Wednesday ordered the immediate payment of February salaries to the civil servants so as to encourage them to participate in the rescheduled Saturday presidential and senatorial election. “On the part of the Federal Government we decided that to make it easy for those who will want to go back to vote, salary payment started on Tuesday as opposed to the normal 25th of every month,” minister of information, Lai Mohammed, told journalist after Federal Executive meeting on Wednesday. “This is just to ease the burden of people who want to go back and cast their vote.” The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)postponement of the general elections by a week, less than five hours to the start of the polls last Saturday. The Commission’s chairman Mahmood Yakubu said the postponement was necessary due to some logistics and operational problems. After the election was postponed many Nigerians expressed displeasure on the development by lamenting t

Chief Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidate of the Young People’s Party (YPP), says the endorsement of a particular candidate by Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo is in vain. Moghalu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Wednesday in Awka. He said youths in South East are now wise to know who to vote for and not for Ohanaeze to compel them on what to do. “We in the South East now know that our elders in Ohanaeze have been economical with the truth, they tell us what they want us to believe for reasons best known to them. “This time around the youth in the region have decided to vote for candidates that appeal to them in terms of development plans for the country,” he said. Moghalu said he has done much for Nigerians to deserve their votes in Feb. 23, poll. “I did so much for the country while serving as the deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “I introduced POS services; the ATM card was also my initiative as well as Bank Verification Num

..Deployment of material to end on Thursday ….Says INEC good to go The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that the deployment of voting materials to the 774 Local Government Areas of the country will be completed on Thursday. INEC also said that it has completed 100% the configuration of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) which will be used for the accreditation of voters on the 23rd February and 9th March 2019. Updating the media and observers on the preparedness of the commission on Wednesday, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Commission said deployment commenced on Wednesday in ten(10) states. This he said will be completed on Thursday. He also acknowledged that there are reports of missing materials in some states. The commission he assured has made good progress in the area of logistics and is good to go. He also said that only accredited diplomats will be allowed to move about as there is restriction on movement . Details shortly…

The Nigerian Air Force said on Wednesday that it has destroyed Boko Haram terrorists’ camp and neutralized some of its fighters in a village called Arboko in Borno State. The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the strikes were launched after an intelligence platform had established the presence of the terrorists in the area. Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) camp and neutralized some of their fighters at a settlement called Arboko in Borno State. “The operation was conducted on 18 February 19 while a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform were providing close air support to troops of 82 Brigade Nigerian Army. “In the course of the operation, the ISR aircraft spotted a group of BHT fighters within Arboko village and vectored the Alpha Jet to engage the

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has revealed alleged plots by President Muhammadu Buhari to rig the Saturday presidential election by postponement of polls in three northern states. He said the plot is to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifts elections in Borno, Adamawa and Kaduna states based on security issues. According to Atiku, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will then on a slated date for elections in those three states, use security agents to massively rig polls in favour of Buhari. Atiku, who stated this in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday, claimed that the plot was part of the discussion Buhari had with governors of the three northern states during a closed-door meeting with them in Abuja on Tuesday. The statement read, “The deal, cut at a meeting with some northern governors and service chiefs in the presidential villa in Abuja is simple:

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state. By implication, the APC chapter in River State will not be fielding candidates in the upcoming general elections. In a statement Friday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the apex court’s judgment as victory for democracy and the rule of law. The statement said, “The party commends the apex court for its courage in delivering the landmark judgment, which has saved the nation from a serious constitutional crisis that could have marred the 2019 general elections and detract from our overall electoral system. “The judgment of the Supreme Court serves as a huge lesson to politicians and political parties, to eschew impunity and always conduct their affairs in a manner that is in tandem with the provision of the law. “The courage displayed by the Supreme Court in delivering the j

Alex Enumah in Abuja The European Union has said its election observation missions are impartial and adhere strictly to its core principle of non interference in the electoral process of any country particularly the forthcoming election in Nigeria. The EU’s assurance was occasioned by a statement from Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, who had in a television broadcast Tuesday evening threatened foreign nationals who may interfere with the forthcoming elections. Reacting, the EU EOM in a statement by its Press Officer, Sarah Fradgley, Wednesday said the EU only go to countries to observe elections on invitation, adding that they are in Nigeria based on the fact that the government of Nigeria extended invitation to them to monitor the elections. “We are aware of the comments by the Governor of Kaduna about non-interference by foreigners during a talk show on the elections Tuesday 5 February. “The EU only deploys an election observation mission when it is invited