#BBB NEWS| Catholic Priests Now Have Indefinite Power To Forgive Abortion

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope who assumed the papacy in 2013, announces he’s extended all Catholic priests the power to forgive abortions (so long as women can feel ashamed over bodily autonomy, of course, and repent their wrongdoing).

Once considered a moral evil, procured abortions are still a “grave sin” Pope Francis maintains.

“I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life,” he states. “In the same way, however, I can and must state that there is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father.”

#BBB NEWS| Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu Defects To APC

Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr. Kalu, who is facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a N3.2b fraud, was received at the APC headquarters in Abuja. APC National Chairman John Odige-Oyegun and members of the National Working Committee officially welcomed the former governor to the party.

According to Mr. Kalu, APC chieftains had been courting him for some time. He said they invited him to dinner at least twenty times.

“They had been on my neck, asking that I must come over to APC,” Mr. Kalu said. “The national chairman always buys me red wine.”

#BBB NEWS| Edo Decides: APC Candidate Wins Edo Governorship Election

Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party candidate in the gubernatorial election in Edo State, has won the contest in the two-way race with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning most of the votes.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the PDP came second in the votes collated and announced by INEC.

#BBB NEWS| Court Of Appeal Sacks 16 PDP Assembly Members In Rivers State

Sixteen members of the Rivers House of Assembly out of 32  on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, have so far lost their appeal against the earlier nullification of their elections at Tribunal.

The Court of Appeal in its latest judgment so far said the election that brought the affected 16 PDP Lawmakers to power did not substantially comply with the Electoral law thereby upholding the petitions of Hope Barango-Tariah of APC was upheld

In Asari Toru constituency 1 – Hope Barango-Tariah of APC won against Granville Wellington of PDP.

Similarly, in Asari Toru Constituency 2 Emeni George PDP lost to Godstime Ben-Horsfall of  APC.  The PDP lawmaker representing Ahoada-East 2 lost his appeal to the challenger, Ibiso Nwuche of APC,and in Akuku-Toru constituency one,Jack Major of PDP lost his appeal to challenge of Ineye Jack of APC.

#BBB NEWS| Former Governor Audu Wins Kogi Governorship Election

Former Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State has won the tightly contested governorship election in the state, according official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commisison (INEC) in Lokoja the Kogi state capital.

Mr. Audu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada (ret.), of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) .

Mr. Audu scored 240, 867 votes to defeat Mr. Wada who scored 205, 977 votes.

#BBB NEWS| Over 1,000 Defect From APC To PDP In Bayelsa

Ahead of the governorship election in Bayelsa State, no fewer than 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The defecting members, comprising 800 delegates at the APC governorship primary election held on August 22 and August 29 declared for the PDP at a ceremony which took place at Peace Park, Yenagoa, yesterday.

The defectors were led into the Peace Park venue by two prominent members of the APC, Senator John Brambaifa and Mr. Alex Ekiotenne.

They were received at the venue by Governor Seriake Dickson; Deputy National Chairman, PDP, South-South, Mr. Cairo Ojuigbo; Acting State Chairman, PDP, Mr. Serena Dokubo-Spiff; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), among other PDP leaders.

#BBB NEWS| Group Wants Court To Stop Buhari’s Inauguration

A group, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, has instituted a fresh suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from swearing the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday.

The suit filed on Tuesday is also seeking an order nullifying the certificate of return issued to Buhari by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The plaintiff hinged the suit on the allegation that Buhari did not qualify to contest the presidential election on the grounds that he gave false information about his academic qualification to INEC.

Between January and February 2015 there were about 10 cases instituted by various plaintiffs challenging Buhari’s eligibility to stand for the poll on the grounds of his academic qualification controversy. But after he won, the cases were withdrawn.

#BBB NEWS| Fani-Kayode Slams Metuh, Claims APC Ran Malicious Campaign

The chief media spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan’s failed reelection campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed claims that the president’s team engaged in a hate campaign.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who spoke yesterday, was reacting to allegations by some members of Mr. Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party lost due to its deployment of hate-filled speeches.

“If one or two members of the [PDP’s] National Working Committee are so ignorant that they cannot make a distinction between virile political banter and a hate campaign, that is their problem,” said the presidential spokesman, making a hardly veiled reference to Olisa Metuh, the PDP’s national publicity secretary.

Mr. Fani-Kayode insisted that the PDP’s campaign had to vigorously engage the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the PDP “was faced with the most effective and ruthless campaign of calumny that this country has ever known from an opposition that was ruthlessly efficient in all its ways and that was not prepared to spare [President Jonathan] or take any prisoners.”

#BBB NEWS| APC to Jonathan: Only The Guilty Should Be Afraid

 

The All Progressives Congress on Monday said only those who are guilty of crimes against the Nigerian people need to be afraid of the incoming administration.

It assured Nigerians that the incoming Buhari administration will not persecute anyone, contrary to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

APC said, “Those who have played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.

“That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes.

“However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality.

#BBB NEWS| We Met Buhari To Discuss The Precarious State Of The Nigerian Economy - APC Governors

The governors elected ​on​ the platform of the All Progressives Congress have stated that they met with President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the precarious state of the Nigerian economy.

The Chairman of the APC Governors forum and governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, who briefed reporters at the end of the meeting that held at the Defence House Abuja, said the country’s economy is in such bad shape that no state has been able to pay salaries of its workers.

“As it stands today, most states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries, even the Federal Government has not been able to pay their April salary and that is worrisome,” he said.

“By May /June, that will be three months and with the huge expectations of the people who voted for us into office, we are hoping that the president-elect will do all that is humanly possible to bring a bail out not only on the states, but the Federal Government as well.”

#BBB NEWS| My Enemies Are Harming President Jonathan's Legacy - PDP Chairman Mu'azu

Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, says those rooting for his removal are enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan, and are thereby rubbishing the legacy of the outgoing president.

Following Mr. Jonathan’s defeat in the March presidential election, some people within the party have called for the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Mr. Mu'azu, to be sacked.

In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by his media aide, Tony Amadi, that top party men and aides of the President who have advocated the dismemberment of the NWC not only risk their political careers but are dragging President Jonathan's image into the scrap heap.

"Mr President is being hailed world-wide for his historic conduct of a free and fair election in Nigeria and conceding power to the incoming President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari, while a coterie of his aides are working to diminish his newly acquired world statesmanship status because they are scared of the consequences of losing federal power,” he said.

#BBB NEWS| APC Accuses Jonathan’s Govt Of Hindering Smooth Transition Of Power

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the JonathanAdministration of plotting to hinder a smooth handover of power on May29th, as it is becoming apparent that the Administration will not fully cooperate with the incoming government, despite its public posturing in that regard.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also described as an act of hostility and a patently-misplaced aggression the unnecessary vituperation against the incoming Buhari Administration by the Jonathan government, ostensibly because of the terms of reference of the Buhari Transition Committee but in reality part of an orchestrated plot to sabotage the transition.

It rejected the continued blackmail by the Jonathan Administration as a result of President Jonathan’s concession of defeat, wondering whether the concession, gracious as it was, has now become a shield for all wrong doings.

#BBB NEWS| INEC Declares Ikpeazu Winner Of Abia Governorship Election - Channels Television

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Okezie Ikpeazu, the winner of the Abia State governorship election.

Mr Ikpeazu polled 264,713 to defeat the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Alex Otti, who polled 180,882 votes.

The result was declared in the early hours of Sunday after the supplementary election of Saturday.

Election was held in all the areas earlier listed by INEC for the re-run election except in Umunneochi Local Government Area.

INEC had erroneously scheduled election there, which was not supposed to take place in the first instance because the Form, EC40G, was not filled which indicated that there was no problem in the area.

#BBB NEWS| Rochas Okorocha Declared Winner Of Imo State Governorship Election

The incumbent Governor Rochas Okorocha has secured victory after today’s supplementary polls to conclude the inconclusive governorship election in Imo State.

Mr. Okorocha, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has beaten Emeka Ihedioha, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by 416,996 votes.   Mr. Ihedioha scored 320,705 votes.

#BBB NEWS| APC Asks ICC, NHRC To Prosecute Fayose

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has urged the National Human Rights Commission and the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Holland, to prosecute Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The party accused the governor of making inciting broadcast on the state radio and television by urging his supporters into “an act of rage and violence” to attack the 19 APC lawmakers in the Ekiti State House of Assembly thus preventing the lawmakers from performing their constitutional duties.

The APC said the statement by Fayose had threatened the peace of the state in the past few days.

But the governor dismissed the call by the APC as coming from a group of people that lacked decorum.

The APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement on Tuesday, said the call to the ICC and NHRC became imperative because of the death of one person recorded in Efon Alaaye and the near collapse of the peace after the governor’s live broadcast.

#BBB NEWS| I Don’t Need Your Praise, Tinubu Tells Kashamu

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has rejected the praises showered on him by Ogun-East senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu.

Kashamu, who is the Chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West, had last week, described Tinubu as his role model and the architect of modern Nigeria.

However, Tinubu, in a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Sunday Dare, described Kashamu as a pretender.

The former governor of Lagos State said there was no basis for comparison between himself and Kashamu, adding that he felt insulted by the open letter addressed to him by Kashamu.

He said, “The days of false adulation are gone in Nigerian politics. Fake praise singers like Kashamu will find that their particular craft is no longer in vogue. During this election cycle, their practice has dramatically turned from the way things are to how things used to be.

#BBB NEWS| My Plea For Forgiveness Is Not Cowardice - Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said his asking for forgiveness should not be taken for cowardice by his opponents, saying his tenure in office will be determined by God.

He said he took the step to seek a genuine reconciliation with the All Progressives Congress, whose 19 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly were plotting his impeachment.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised for him at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to celebrate his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace. Waiving the olive branch does not mean cowardice, it is for peace.

#BBB NEWS| Those I’ve Offended Should Forgive Me — Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has asked for forgiveness from those he might have offended and expressed his readiness to dialogue with his opponents to bring peace to the state.

This is as the speaker and head of the All Progressives Congress 19 state legislators, Dr. Adewale Omirin expressed their willingness to dialogue with the governor if he (Fayose) is ready to “toe the path of peace”.

Fayose spoke on Friday at a special prayer session organised for him by the Ansarudeen Mosque, Atikankan in Ado-Ekiti to celebrate his recent electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

The 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have issued a notice of impeachment to the governor, citing eight impeachable offences.

The embattled Speaker, Omirin, had last week Thursday requested the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to raise a seven-man panel within seven days of receipt of the letter to investigate Fayose and his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, over allegations of impunity, violence and stalking among other constitutional breaches.

#BBB NEWS| APC Rejects May 28 Handover Date | PUNCH

There are indications that the All Progressives Congress is uncomfortable with the May 28 handover date proposed by the out-going administration.

Investigation by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) are set to clash over a proposal by the Jonathan team to hand over the mantle of leadership to Buhari on May the 28th, instead of the 29th.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the Buhari team was already over what they considered as an act of ill-will laced with sinister motives.

This is sequel to an announcement by the Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, that President Jonathan would perform the handover ceremony at a dinner on May 28.

Akwashiki made the announcement after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting.

#BBB NEWS| Refusal To Respect Single-Term Agreement Caused PDP’s Defeat – Babangida Aliyu

The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, on Friday said the recent defeat of the People Democratic Party at both national and state elections did not come to Nigerians as a surprise because “we saw it coming.”

Aliyu, who spoke in Minna as a special guest of honour at a convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, argued that the refusal of the PDP to honour the “single-term agreement” led to the party’s heavy defeat at both the Presidential and governorship polls.

The lecture was titled ‘The role of Law in the enhancement of socio-economic growth of the nation’.

The governor said, “Many of us saw it coming. When I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term(that President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to run for one term), they nearly crucified me. When I led the G7(group of seven aggrieved PDP governors), they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left and they did what we asked them to do.”