News
Drama As APC, INEC Tender Conflicting Results At Bayelsa Gov Tribunal

The All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, on Wednesday, tendered conflicting election results for the November 11, 2023 governorship election held in Bayelsa State at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
INEC had declared Douye Diri, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, as the winner of the election after polling a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress who scored 115,262 votes.
Diri, and his deputy, Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo, were on Wednesday inaugurated for their second term in office.
They took fresh oaths of office and allegiance administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, inside the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Stage Set For Bayelsa Gov’s Second Term Inauguration
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Sylva and the APC are challenging the declaration of Diri as the winner of the election at the tribunal.
INEC, Diri, his deputy, Ewhirujakpo, and the PDP are the respondents in the matter.
Sylvia and APC are contending that the election was conducted in Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe Local Government Areas where INEC claimed that the election was not held due to the diversion of electoral materials among others.
However, at the commencement of the hearing of the petition, INEC presented its Certified True Copies of the election results, whereas the APC polling unit agents submitted diverse results for the areas where they were deployed.
An APC polling agent, Odungele Moses, before giving testimony, adopted his statement on oath which he deposed to on December 1, 2023.
Led in evidence by counsel for the petitioners, Tunde Falola, the witness maintained that the election took place in his polling unit, PU 15, Ward 4, and tendered a result which he claimed was issued to him by the election’s presiding officer.
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However, during cross-examination by, counsel for the governor, Chris Uche, SAN, the witness admitted that although 16 political parties participated in the election, only the APC which he represented as an agent signed the result he tendered.
He, however, did not give reasons why others did not sign.
Another witness, Mallory Afin, who also testified for the petitioners tendered APC results which had the same serial number and number of accredited voters of 169 with INEC’s, but had different results recorded for the political parties.
During a cross-examination, Uche observed that the results tendered by the APC and its candidate at two different polling units were signed by the same presiding officer.
When put to Afin that the result he had was fake, the witness denied the allegations of parading fake election results.
Uche asked if he knew who had the power to conduct elections and declare a winner, the witness stated that it was INEC.
Although the two conflicting results were objected to by the different parties, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, admitted them as exhibits for the tribunal’s consideration during the hearing of the petition.
Adeleye subsequently adjourned further hearing till February 15, 2024.
News
Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.
Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.
“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.
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He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.
According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.
Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.
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He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.
One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.
He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.
News
Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.
He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.
READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack
Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.
“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”
He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.
He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.
Watch the video here
News
Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.
The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached
Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.
He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.
Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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