Protesters in the capital of former French African colony Niger burn two churches and torch police cars, in the second day of violent anti-Charlie Hebdo protests. Mana Rabiee reports.

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Explosion outside the Algerian embassy in Libya’s capital Tripoli damaged nearby vehicles, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

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Civil society organisations have raised concerns over the huge amounts expended on electioneering campaign by political parties in Nigeria in view of the falling oil price.

According to them, the role that money played during party primaries held last month was an indication that many politicians were ready to buy votes during the elections.

The groups’ concerns came on Saturday just as politicians are campaigning for votes from the electorate ahead of the general elections that will begin in few weeks time.

It comes once in four years, but huge amounts of money get expended on campaigns, something the groups condemned at a time that the price of crude, the major source of the nation’s revenue, is witnessing a sustained decline.

Politicians gather crowds as they traverse the length and breadth of the country, promising a better life for the populace.

In all these, money changes hands and that has become a source of concern to civil society groups.

The Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr Eze Onyekpere, stressed that such trend would result in the political leader seeking to enrich themselves when they assume office before considering the provision of basic amenities for the common man.

The leading political parties, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raised huge sums of money from their members and supporters to fund their campaigns.

The PDP had raised over 20 billion Naira in a major fundraising event to fund its campaign activities while the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, had raised 44 million Naira from supporters to fund its presidential campaign ahead of the February 14 election.

Beyond the credibility of the electoral process, the Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, also insisted that expending huge money on campaign was an act that threatens Nigeria’s democracy.

Existing Nigerian laws do …read more      

Hundreds of troops are deployed in Belgium, after a series of raids and arrests on an Islamist group that authorities say was planning to attack police. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the general elections of 2015 would be adjudged better than previous elections.

After a political campaign in Lokoja on Friday, General Buhari stressed that the INEC must do all it could to make the election free, fair and credible in order to uphold the confidence of Nigerians in the democratic process.

At a political campaign rally in Lokoja, held at the Township Stadium, the APC presidential candidate urged his supporters to ensure that they would collect their Permanent Voter Carts (PVC) before the election to enable them vote.

He also stated that the time for change had come and that the people must not allow the opportunity to slip by.

As early as 10:00am supporters of the APC were already seated at the stadium, waiting for their presidential flag bearer, who was at a campaign in Markudi, Benue State capital.

While some climbed on the stadium fence to be able to catch a glimpse of the presidential candidate and his vice, others climbed to the goal posts to get a better view.

The crowd waited patiently, until 5;30pm when the presidential flag bearer appeared with his running mate and some APC stalwart amiss of cheering dancing and shouting from there supporters. General Buhari was seen waving at the people from his car.

It was not am easy task for them to get to the podium as the supporters were all trying to catch a glimpse of them.

The flag bearer and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osibajo, were led to the podium.

They came in company of the party National Chairman, Mr John Oyegun, Governor Rotimi Amechi of Rivers State, Senator Bukola Saraki, Prince Abubakar Audu, who is the leader of APC in Kogi State …read more      

Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard says his team cannot rely only on Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure at the Nations Cup. …read more      

Angry residents of Gombe in northeast Nigeria burn the remains of a suicide bomber in a car tire after he blows himself up at a market and kills at least six people. Mana Rabiee reports.

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Police in the capital of Niger fire tear gas during a protest against the French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s Prophet Muhammad cartoon …read more      

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has begun its state-wide campaign, urging all registered voters to vote for the party.

Party leaders including the APC Lagos State governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, will be going round the various local government areas in the state to woo voters.

Mr Ambode had promised to build on the achievements of his predecessors by running a transparent government.

The campaign is the build up to the governorship election in the state that has APC’S Ambode and Mr Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party as the major contenders.

The post Lagos APC Begins Statewide Campaign appeared first on Channels Television.

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Violence breaks out in Niger’s capital Niamey during protests against French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

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