The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Atahiru Jega, has called on traditional rulers to educate politicians and electorates in their communities on the need for peaceful elections in 2015.

He made the call during one of the several forums organised by INEC to engage stakeholders ahead of the elections with the objective of enlisting the support of all for a free, fair and peaceful elections in 2015.

As politicians position for contest, INEC used the event to seek the support of royal fathers to moderate their conducts and that of their supporters for peaceful elections.

According to Professor Jega, polls conducted have revealed that traditional rulers influence their subjects during elections.

He noted that the political atmosphere for 2015 had become charged, saying some prominent politicians were already making statements that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the elections.

The INEC Chairman promised that the commission would continue to do all it can to reduce the apprehensions and ensure peaceful elections next year.

It is barely two months to the general elections.

The post Jega Meets Traditional Rulers For Peaceful Elections appeared first on Channels Television.

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President Goodluck Jonathan has stressed the need for Nigerians and corporate bodies to continue to show support to veteran military personnel.

At the launch of an emblem for 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja on Monday, President Jonathan commended Nigerian soldiers for showing gallantry in the fight against terrorism in the north-east.

“Those who fight to stabilise the country should be appreciated at all times,” President Jonathan told the gathering at the Conference Center in the Presidential villa.

He pledged the commitment of his administration to the welfare of the veterans and urged state governments to lend support to the course.

The President further urged Nigerians to donate generously to the emblem week, instructing all who have any business in the Presidential Villa to ensure they wear the emblem

The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion (group of veteran soldiers), Mika Daya, called on all that were present to donate generously not just for the families of the dead but those alive but incapacitated.

He also pointed out that there were more losses this time in the hands of Boko Haram.

The Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau Mohammed, said that it was an enduring tradition and a time to express appreciation to the armed forces for the sacrifices made in the service of their fatherland in line with the theme for the year 2015.

The Minister further showed example as he allowed the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion to get his own emblem pinned up.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an annual event organised to honour soldiers who fought in various wars in and outside Nigeria.

Many of them, referred to as heroes, died living impoverished families while others are alive but need support.

The Remembrance Day ceremony will hold on January 15 and Nigerians have been asked to buy the emblem and wear it, as they could be saving …read more      

Days after a Russian aircraft carrying military arms was held at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, journalists have been restricted from entering the airport by a joint security of the Air Force and Mobile policemen.

The security personnel on Friday searched every vehicle or individual going into the airport to identify journalists.

While the stop and search is ongoing, members of the Northern Consensus Movement are planning a protest over the Russian cargo.

Several calls were made by Channels Television’s correspondent to the president of the movement, Comrade Ibrahim Garba, who was since at the airport to brief reporters but no response.

An Air Force official attached to the main entrance of the airport told Channels Television that the decision to restrict movement was made because of journalists.

“l am sorry but my orders are to stop you from entering this facility. So please go back,” the air force official said.

Nevertheless, a close look at the Plane, which was packed near the new International terminal of the airport, has a Russian Flag design on it with inscription number 224, R-82038.

Sources at the airport said the plane was under the escort of 18 persons, comprising of two pilots and two foreign soldiers in military uniform.

“From the control tower, the pilot asked for clearance to land on emergency but on landing he was asked to provide clearance for entering the Nigeria airspace. What he gave was actually uttered”

“After search of the cargo aircraft, “two invincible to raider military aircraft, one bulletproof ford and four containers filled with different calibre of rifles and bullets were discovered”.

Neither the airport’s security nor authority has said anything about the continued stay of the plane, but sources say former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Shariff, had on Sunday held a secret meeting with the airport’s officials.

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Issa Hayatou, says Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations has not diminished the country’s importance to the structure of African football.

Hayatou told Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, that the entire African football family would feel the absence of the Super Eagles at next year’s finals.

“The whole of Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. But the absence will not in any way diminish your stature as a very big and influential nation in the African game,” Hayatou was quoted as saying in an NFF statement.

“It would have been good to have the defending champions in Equatorial Guinea.

“Nigeria brings so much value to the Africa Cup of Nations. However, we know that you will come back much stronger, as you did in winning the Cup in South Africa last year after missing out on the 2012 championship.”

Reigning champions Nigeria will not defend their title in Equatorial Guinea after they finished outside of their group’s top two automatic qualification spots.

The Super Eagles ended the qualifying campaign with eight points – a total not good enough for the best third-placed team.

Nigeria suffered a troubled qualification campaign where they not only struggled with form on the pitch but were also affected by deep divisions in the NFF.

Coach Stephen Keshi’s position was also unstable, and he was frequently in and out of the job.

Meanwhile, officials have reiterated that Nigeria will host Brazil in a prestigious friendly in March 2015.

The two sides have only ever met once in the past and that was a friendly in 2003 in Abuja with Brazil emerging 3-0 winners.

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The PRO, Nigeria Prison Service, Ope Fatinikun on Monday revealed that 104 out of the 200 inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Prison in Minna, the Niger State capital, in north-east Nigeria, as well as three mastermind behind the incident have been apprehended.

Gunmen, who invaded the prison Saturday evening, shooting sporadically overpowered the guards at the facility before setting the inmates free.

However, “around 12:30 am today (Monday), three of those who masterminded the jailbreak were arrested”, Fatinikun said during a telephone interview on Sunrise Daily.

He also noted that the new Comptroller General of Prisons, Dr Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu, had condemned the Minna jail break and promised to “get the the root” of the matter.

Fatinikun also noted that about 155 inmates were in custody and that investigations into the incident are on-going.

There has been a spate of jail breaks and crisis in recent times as incidents have been recorded in Ekiti and Lagos states.

Giving update on the Ado-Ekiti case, Fatinikun said that 193 inmates were in custody but the search for 200 more inmates was on-going.

Concerning the Lagos prison riot, he noted that a lot of mobile phones had been recovered from in-mates followed a directive by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, to the former Comptroller of Prisons, two weeks ago.

He also disclosed that Prison officers who had been found culpable had either been sacked or suspended.

Although he denied claims that there were VIP inmates who were allowed to have phones and generators, Fatinikun was unable to explain exactly how the contraband items made their way into inmates’ possession despite the search carried out on visitors to ensure they do not take in items not allowed.

He further argued that the best prisons all over the world also had issues from time to time.

The post Masterminds Behind …read more      

Two Myanmar workers plead not guilty to charges including murder over the killing of two British tourists in Thailand.

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A group under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, called Freedom Group, has called on the leadership of the party in the state to zone the governorship ticket to Kwara South Senatorial District.

At a press conference in Ilorin, the group which comprises elders of the party from the South Senatorial District, wondered how a section could rule for 16 years and still clamour for power.

However, the leadership of the party in the state, faulted the call, noting that every governorship aspirant will be given opportunity to test their popularity with the electorates.

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The French Embassy has claimed ownership of the Russian commercial plane carrying two light helicopters and some arms.

The plane was held down at the Mallam Aminu International Airport in Kano, while a group of northern consensus movement continue to stage protest around the airport over the identity of the plane.

The French Embassy says the cargo plane, an Antonov 124, had a regular flight plan from Bangui to N’djamena; the embassy also explained that the flight was covered by a diplomatic clearance given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The full details of what the plane …read more