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Here’s our picks on today’s top buzzy stories on Punch Newspaper. We prepare it as a quick-read for our visitors who also enjoys Punch News.
No fewer than 1.72 million persons are eligible to vote in the September 19, Edo governorship polls while 483,796 eligible voters will not participate.
A document from the Independent National Electoral Commission titled, ‘Delimitation of Edo State’, shows that the identified ineligible voters in Edo failed to collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
The document further showed that as of August 2018 there are 2,210,534 registered voters in the state, however, only 1,726,738 collected their PVCs.
The Federal Government has frowned on the statements issued by the United States and the United Kingdom on the governorship elections holding in Edo State on Saturday (today) and Ondo State on October 10, 2020.
It also expressed concern over the visa restrictions imposed by the US on unnamed politicians for their alleged involvement in electoral violence during the Kogi and Bayelsa states’ governorship polls.
“It would be considered disrespectful of the sovereignty of Nigeria for any outside authority to sit in judgment over the conduct of our citizens and apply punitive measures such as visa restriction, unilaterally,” the Federal Government said.
The Rivers State Government on Friday raised the alarm that the life of Governor Nyesom Wike is in danger, following policemen’s barricade of the hotel he (Wike) lodged in Benin, the Edo State capital.
There were reports that policemen numbering up to 300 had surrounded the hotel located in the Government Reserved Area in Benin , where the governor, who is the Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council in Edo State, lodged.
But a statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, alleged that the policemen led by DIG Leye Oyebade, had not hidden their threats that Wike should leave Edo State.
A foundation member of the All Progressives Congress and immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said the crisis which hit the party began when those who played no role either in its formation or in electioneering leading up to its historic 2015 victory took charge of affairs.
Ogbeh said this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday. He noted that unlike ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t interfere in the management of the party.
A landlord, David Ntiero Okon, has been arrested for allegedly setting his tenant ablaze in Calabar, Cross River State, over her failure to pay N11, 000 house rent.
The incident happened on Wednesday at No 9, Ansa Ewa Street, Cobham Town in the Bayside area of Calabar South.
The landlord allegedly poured fuel on Mrs Mary Samuel’s room and ignited a fire that engulfed the one-room apartment.
The Federal Government has barred Emirates Airlines from operating in Nigeria. According to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the ban will take effect from Monday, September 21, 2020.
“The PTF sub-committee met today with EU Ambassadors to discuss Lufthansa, Air France/KLM ban. The meeting progressed well. Emirates Airlines’ situation was reviewed and they are consequently included in the list of those not approved, with effect from Monday, September 21, 2020.”
The Federal Government had last month vowed to enforce the principle of reciprocity in granting permission to airlines to resume operations.
At least 12 out of the 18 local government areas of Edo State will play a decisive role in Saturday’s (today) governorship poll as incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, clashes with the leading opposition All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Although 14 parties fielded candidates for the poll, observers have argued that the election would be a two horse race between the PDP and the APC.
According to analysis by Saturday PUNCH, the 12 battleground local government areas are Egor, Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West and Uhunmwode, Akoko Edo, Owan West, Owan East, Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central.
Mr. Joseph Simeon is an Editor/Content Creator at Naija Buzz News. He is an experienced content creator. He currently leads a small group of talented writers at Naija Buzz News. He previously served as the Relationship Editor at 1Push.Ng. He studied Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State, before proceeding to Kaduna Polytechnic Kaduna for his Advance Studies in Public Administration. Simeon loves and enjoys playing football.
