Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Former Watford boss Javi Gracia is set to be named the manager of Leeds United, ending the club’s search for Jesse Marsch’s successor. Marsch was sacked on 6 February but the Whites have faced several setbacks in their hunt for his replacement. Spaniard Gracia, 52, took Watford to the FA Cup final in 2019, before managing Valencia and Al Sadd in Qatar. Leeds are 19th in the Premier League and face bottom club Southampton on Saturday. Under-21 boss Michael Skubala has been in interim charge since Marsch’s sacking despite club owner Andrea Radrizzani initially promising a quick appointment. An approach…

The Resident Electoral Commissione, REC, in Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will continue with its logistics arrangement for the elections commencing this Saturday. Recall that Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, restrained INEC from engaging the Lagos State Parks Management Committee, or any of its commercial bus drivers in the distribution of election materials for the February 25 and March 11 polls. The parties filed the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/271/2023, alongside their governorship candidates in Lagos — Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (LP); Funsho Doherty (ADC), and Wale Oluwo (Boot Party).…

There is confusion as to how an explosion and fire outbreak in Okehi council area of Kogi state came about on Monday night. While some people said the fire outbreak was the handiwork of yet-to-be-identified gunmen, who blew off the administrative offices of the Okehi Local Government secretariat, others said it was the treasury department that was gutted by a ‘mysterious’ fire. They said the incident occurred on Monday night when the assailants invaded the area with explosives. But some staff of the local government, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident was not the work of any terrorist. They linked…

In a notice on its website, the US government advised its citizens to avoid political rallies as “they can turn violent with little or no notice”. In the notice titled ‘Security Alert — Possible Protests Leading to Elections and Restricted Movements on Election Days’, the embassy asked its citizens to be alert to information from the Nigerian government. The notice read: “The Government of Nigeria will restrict the movement of all personal vehicles on election days across the country. Information from the Government of Nigeria indicates that only law enforcement personnel and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)-accredited election observers will be allowed to move…

With four days to the 2023 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. Atiku spoke while addressing members of the Rivers State chapter of PDP in Abuja following the suspension of his rally in the state. He explained that the rally in Rivers State was suspended to protect the lives of people. The PDP presidential candidate pledged to include women and youths in his recovery plan if elected. Atiku also assured stakeholders from the state of completing the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail project…

Three financial associations have assured that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks would do everything possible to ensure availability of the Naira to the general public. The associations are Chief Security Officers in Banks (CSOs), Committee of Heads of Operations of Banks (CHOBs) and Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), In a statement on Monday by Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, President, ACAMB, said the three bodies gave the assurance in a communique at the end of their tripartite meeting on Sunday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held in Lagos and…

Six people have died in an earthquake that struck the border region of Turkey and Syria, on Monday, just two weeks after a larger quake killed more than 47,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. The latest quake which was a magnitude of 6.4 happened near the southern Turkish city of Antakya and was felt in Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, Reuters reported on Tuesday. It struck at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. A rescue team was seen climbing a ladder to gain access into one building where some people…

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, yesterday, declared that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were prepared to ensure a secured general election, starting this Saturday. He spoke after a meeting with military service chiefs and other security chiefs including the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of DSS, Director-General of NIA and the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) ahead of the elections. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Irabor reassured Nigerians that the armed forces and other security agencies were ready to provide a safe and secure environment for the elections. He said the purpose of the meeting was to…

A group under the aegis of the 21st century youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience ( 21st CYNDAC ) has disassociated itself from the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state by the so called Reform Niger Delta Avengers ( RNDA ). According to the group, they believe in the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF led by former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, saying that the people of Niger Delt are not…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said a total of 1,574,301 polling units agents were nominated by the nation’s 18 registered political parties for the general election. A document released in the wee hours of Monday by the commission showed that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP has the highest number of polling units agents – 176,588.It is followed by the ruling All Progressives Congress APC with 176,233, New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP has 176,200 and Labour Party LP with 134,874. All the political parties also nominated a total 68,057 collation agents and 27 agents for the National Collation…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has reassured Nigerians and the international community of free, fair and credible elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the reassurance when he received Commonwealth Election Observer Mission to Nigeria, led by former South Africa President, Thabo Mbeki, at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday. ”INEC understands the enormous benefits of conducting credible elections, not just in Nigeria but the African continent. “Election in Nigeria is huge and we understand. As I said, the responsibility rests on our shoulders. We also understand the benefits of credible elections. It will not only bring peace and good…

Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni have not been included in Real Madrid’s Champions League squad that have travelled to face Liverpool on Tuesday. The LaLiga champions left for the United Kingdom with a depleted midfield, without two of Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice stars in the engine room. However, Luka Modric made the trip alongside Ernesto Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Mario Martin, Sergio Arribas and Dani Ceballos. Madrid came into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Osasuna, thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio. Liverpool have also found some form lately, recording 2-0 victories over Everton and…