Criticisms, lamentations and anger have continued to trail the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) which commenced in Kaduna on Monday.

Several residents, who faulted the entire process, complained of late arrival of materials and absence of adhoc officials in almost all the distribution centres.

Residents said they had a herculean task in tracing their names on the register displaced on the wall.

Many did not see their names even though the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Haliru Tambuwal, told journalists before the exercise commenced that about 3 million cards had been printed and were ready for collection.

While the exercise could not start smoothly on its first day due to non availability of INEC officials and materials, our correspondent who monitored the distribution reported that D 2 of the exercise also witnessed late availability of materials at most of the distribution centres in the state capital and other surrounding local government areas.

In most areas visited, like Jaba, Kachia, Kubau, Zaria, Sanga, Soba and Makarfi local government areas, residents who had collected their PVCs commended INEC for a job well done, while those who were yet to receive theirs in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi, and Chikun local government areas faulted the process.

There were also complaints of missing names on the register as well as non availability of the permanent voter’s cards of those whose names appeared on the voters register.

The residents who trooped out for the exercise were disappointed by the absence of INEC officials at the polling units and designated collation centres as at 12 O’clock in the afternoon.

At the Kabala polling unit, which is the unit of Nigeria’s Vice President, Namadi Sambo, there was no sign of any distribution of voters cards going on. Those who trooped out for the exercise waited in vain and …read more      

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Doyin Okupe said the government would continue to put strategies in place that would check corruption.

The Nigerian government says it is taking a different approach in the fight against corruption, which is yielding results.

A spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, told Channels Television on Tuesday that the administration of President Jonathan was committed to reducing the rate of corruption in Nigeria by checking every avenue that the government was losing money.

It is another Anti-corruption Day and Nigeria has joined the rest of the world in the celebration. It has presented another chance for Nigerians to assess the steps that have been taken to check the global phenomenon.

The recent ranking by Transparency International corruption survey which puts Nigeria at the 136th position down from 144 in 2013 has drawn different reactions.

The presidency, however, said the ranking was heart-warming as it validated the administration’s efforts to check the threat posed by corruption.

Corruption is said to be one factor that has continued to slow Nigeria’s development, a challenge the country has always appeared unable to confront.

The theme for this year’s international anti-corruption day, is “Breaking the Corruption Chain”.

The post Nigeria Taking Different Approach In Fight Against Corruption – Okupe appeared first on Channels Television.

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Controversies have continued to trail the emergence of the Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, as the winner of the PDP Governorship primaries in Imo State.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri the Imo State capital, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, who was said to have come second with 336 votes, said that there are errors in the computation of the results.

He claimed that he was short changed while Honourable Emeka Ihedioha was awarded figures he never earned.

In a statement by the DG of his campaign organization, Independence Ogunnewe, he said that following the statistical analysis of the results, Emeka Ihedioha actually scored 325 votes but the figure was inflated with 21 votes, while his (Ararume) 336 votes is actually the right figure.

He called on the leadership of the party in the state and the Chairman of the Imo PDP Governorship Primaries Electoral Committee to, as a matter of urgency, address the matter and declare him winner.

The post Senator Ararume Rejects Imo PDP Governorship Primaries Result appeared first on Channels Television.

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Two-time Olympic gold medallist and Coach of Sweden, Pia Sundhage, has said that Group D remains the toughest in next year’s FIFA Women World Cup in Canada.

The former FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football admits that the Super Falcons of Nigeria would be the team to beat because they are a great side coming into the competition.

“It’s a very tough group. If you look at each team you will know what I mean. USA is probably the best team in the world and then you have Nigeria who are a very tough team; playing them in the first game will be tough because they are good in the air.”

“I followed them at the U-20 and the fact that they reached the finals absolutely buttresses that they have good players. So, it’s going to be real tough and you add Australia to that who are well organised, it’s going to be a real tough and exciting group.

“I hope Sweden is among the two teams that make it out of the group because US are at the top right now so it’s them and any other team which I am hoping its Sweden” Sundhage said.

Canada 2015 will be Sweden’s seventh appearance at the Women’s World Cup, maintaining their perfect record during the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Australia Coach, Alen Stajcic, has said he is excited at the prospect of playing with the best teams in the world.

A Tough Side To Face

Stajcic, who only assumed the reins on a permanent basis last September, having taken over on an interim basis for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, said that though the group is tough, he was optimistic his side would scale through.

“This is probably the toughest group at the World Cup, at the same time I am excited that we are going to be …read more      

Following the political activities going on in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) have postponed the maiden President’s Cup to December 17 and 18 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The change in date was inevitable, as the venue will also be hosting other events this week. Top 16 players within and outside the country will feature at the tournament which will also be used to honour outstanding players and officials this year.

According to a release from NTTF, the tournament is aimed at inspiring the players as well as puting them in good shape for the major competitions in 2015. The players listed for the 1.8 million Naira prize money tournament are expected to arrive for the competition on December 16.
In the prospectus released by the organisers, the 16 men singles and the 16 women singles players shall be drawn into four groups of four players in each group.

The matches will be played in a round robin format with the top two players progressing to the next stage of the championship. The top eight players will also be drawn into two groups of four each with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinal stage.

On the eligibility of the players, the organisers said: “The NTFF Technical Committee shall determine the other criteria for invitation which shall include for each event, but not limited to available top four Nigerians in the current world rankings as well as performances during the year 2014. Only players registered by clubs which are affiliated to their state association and or the NTTF are eligible”.

They added: “All players shall hold the current NTTF Player’s License, which must be produced on demand. Invited players shall complete an acceptance form which shall be forwarded to the Secretary …read more