German beer consumption drops for seventh year

Germans are slowly losing their taste for beer, with domestic sales of the amber nectar down for the seventh year in a row, the national statistics office said Thursday.

The output of German breweries dropped two percent in 2013 on the previous year to the lowest level since

World's oldest flamingo dies in Australian zoo, aged 83

Staff at Adelaide Zoo were in mourning Friday after the world's oldest flamingo, and their oldest resident, died aged 83.

The flamingo, known as "Greater" after his species, was put to

Cassava farmers hail LG's support

Cassava farmers in Birniwa, Jigawa, on Thursday commended the Birniwa Local Government Council for its support aimed at accelerating cash crop production in the area.

A cross section of the farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birniwa that the initiative had encouraged cassava, cowpea and groundnut production in the area.
Malam Ali Yusfari, a farmer, said he had cultivated two

Justice at last for Victor

News By Punch

Late Emmanuel Victor

AT last, justice has come the way of the oppressed. In a bold statement by a Nigerian court, a trigger-happy policeman has been sentenced to death by hanging after he was found guilty of gratuitously killing a young man in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a little over two years ago.

Although the judgement delivered by Justice Lucky Boufili will not bring 20-year-old Emmanuel Victor back to life, his mother, Grace, in whose presence the boy was shot, and other members of the family can take cold comfort from the fact that the perpetrator, Matthew Egheghe, will not go scot-free. They can also be consoled by the

Job losses loom in telecoms industry

Some engineers and other employees of telecoms companies in the country may be thrown into the labour market as a result of the decision of the firms to sell off their base stations and towers.

The sale of the assets is part of the outsourcing model implemented by the telecoms firms to cut costs following dwindling revenues. Although the outsourcing of tower services is a global phenomenon as far as the telecoms business is concerned, operators in Nigeria are, however, leveraging on the business model now to cut

10 APC Reps disown Shekarau over defection

Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau

Ten All Progressives Congress members of the House of Representatives from Kano State have disowned a former Governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, for defecting to the People Democratic Party.

 The lawmakers, who were Shekarau’s loyalists before the latest development, said they did not support his defection. The lawmakers vowed to remain in the APC and resist any pressure on them to follow Shekarau to the PDP. The Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Sumaila Kawu, who spoke on

Defection: Saraki, 10 other PDP senators write Mark

There was confusion on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, following unconfirmed reports that 11 Senators defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to join the opposition All Progressives Congress.

A statement earlier issued by the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had said that the 11 Senators had defected. In the statement, Mohammed claimed that the affected Senators had written a formal letter informing the Senate leadership of their decision and that the said letter

Jonathan’s Visit to Yola Provoked People into Protest…

News By The Guardian


President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday provoked the ire of some residents who protested against the disruption of their commercial activities.



The President’s visit was the first since he assumed office. He was in Yola to commission an Air Force Secondary School of about 50 students. The school was established by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alexander Badel, an indigene of the state. Hundreds of market women took over the streets along Mohammed Mustafa Way about 10:00 a.m., protesting against the closure of their

2015: INEC Shocked Us by Her Timetable —Presidency

News By Osun Defender


The presidency has dismissed as false, comments that it influenced the 2015 election time-table released by the PDP last week.


Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Monday, accused the Presidency of influencing the electoral umpire to schedule the presidential election first so as to create a ‘bandwagon effect’ in subsequent elections in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.


“I don’t know how they influenced the Independent National Electoral Commission to put this election and National Assembly election first and then two weeks after, they’ll do House of Assembly and governorship elections. I think the presidential election should

Surprises As Obi, Mimiko Attend PDP Caucus

Teddy Oscar, Reporting from Abuja
News By osun Defender


A meeting of the PDP Caucus in Abuja on Tuesday received surprise visitors in attendance with the arrival of the duo of Mr. Peter Obi (Anambra State governor) and Mr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo State governor) appeared at the meeting of the PDP Caucus.


The unexpected surprise was that both governors are not PDP governors, but those of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour parties, respectively. The

2015: PDP Reps Demand Automatic Tickets

News By The Guardians


AS the build up to the 2015 elections gathers momentum, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Representatives yesterday demanded automatic tickets as a bargaining chip for their loyalty to the party.


The House Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola made the demand on Tuesday night when the

Syria’s heritage in ruins: before-and-after pictures

The war in Syria has claimed more than 130,000 lives and, as these images reveal, it is also laying waste to its historic buildings and Unesco-listed sites

Syriain ruins 1 – Umayyad mosque, Aleppo – Before and After

They were sleepy tree-lined boulevards where people lived and

LASU UPDATES: It’s impossible to get quality education at N25, 000 – Lagos Govt

News By Vanguard
Lagos state government has yesterday said giving the huge financial demands of providing quality tertiary education in it’s state-owned university, students should not expect to pay N25,000 as tuition as quality tertiary education cannot be cheap.


Speaking on the appropriation for Lagos State University, LASU, Commissioner for Economic Planning, Ben Akabueze said, the state government will spend N9.2 billion for

MOURINHO: A GREAT EXAMPLE

Jose Mourinho has been recalling his time as Joe Cole's manager, saying he is pleased he was able to develop our former midfielder, now at West Ham, into a better player.


Cole is yet to turn out at Stamford Bridge since leaving Chelsea in 2010, and unfortunately injury prevents him from playing any part in today's game, where he would certainly have received a fantastic reception from former colleagues and supporters alike.  Cole was a key component of Mourinho's title-winning sides in 2005 and 2006, with the Portuguese helping convert our former number

I’ll score with both legs for Stoke – Osaze

Osaze Odemwingie

Newly-signed Stoke City striker Osaze Odemwingie has assured the Potters’ fans he can score goals either with his right or left leg after completing a swap deal which sees Kenwyne Jones move to Cardiff City.

Odemwingie scored just twice in 17 league and cup appearances for Cardiff City but believes he can rediscover his scoring form under his new manager Mark Hughes after signing the 18-month deal on Tuesday..

“Maybe in the past few months I didn’t get too many goal-scoring opportunities, but I am sure that will change here at

Mass housing: Jonathan, clear the hurdles first

IN the last lap of his Presidency, President Goodluck Jonathan has initiated a policy, which he believes will bridge the gap in the country’s housing needs, with the private sector playing a key role. Already, the Federal Government has secured a $300 million loan from the World Bank for this purpose. The money is to be used to set up the Mortgage Refinance Company, out of which $50 million has been set aside for mortgages to the masses.

Drive through the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos from the Oworonsoki end, turn right and watch the insanitary and shocking spectacles that are called

Mu’azu can stabilise PDP, says Tambuwal

News By Punch:    Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has expressed confidence that the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Mu’azu, can stabilise the party.

Speaking against the backdrop of defections to opposition parties, Tambuwal said it was sad that the ruling PDP lost five of its sitting governors to the All Progressives Congress.He also reaffirmed his stand that he remained a staunch member of the PDP, despite the crisis in the party. The Speaker had for some time been sighted hobnobbing with the leadership of the APC at different forums, while he was also reported to have shunned some of PDP’s major events lately. However, speaking on Tuesday shortly after

PDP, APC Senators clash over 2014 budget

The Senate on Tuesday began debate on the 2014 Appropriation  bill with members disagreeing  along party lines on its passage.

While the Peoples Democratic Party senators commended the bill  and called for its immediate approval,  their  All Progressives Congress  counterparts sought its rejection and return to the Executive for a rejig. To the PDP senators, the appropriation bill should be passed  because  it would promote economic growth and add fillip to the Transformation Agenda of the Goodluck  Jonathan administration.

But the APC lawmakers believed that it was not packaged to empower the people and  address  insecurity in the country, especially in the  North-East. In fact, one of the

B’Haram militants cut church members’ throats – Bishop

• A little girl and a security operative at one of the scenes of the Kawuri, Borno State Boko Haram attack ... on Tuesday.
 News By Punch

“Some people tried to escape through the windows and the attackers shot at them. They cut peoples’ throats.”

This was how the Catholic Bishop of Yola, Mamza   Stephen, captured the calamity that befell worshippers  at a Catholic church in Waga Chakawa in Adamawa State when Boko Haram insurgents struck on Sunday morning. Stephen  told the  British Broadcasting Corporation that he heard from the survivors that insurgents   arrived the village  on trucks and locked the church “towards the end of the service.” According to him, the  militants set off bombs, before burning houses and taking residents hostage during  the  four-hour siege.

He added that   death toll in the  Waga Chakawa attack  was  30 and not

Mata savours special debut

Juan Mata was delighted with his first appearance in a Manchester United shirt - chiefly because it ended in victory for the Reds.


The Spanish midfielder started Tuesday's match against Cardiff City at Old Trafford, just under 72 hours after completing his club-record transfer from Chelsea. He played 85 minutes - an impressive duration given his recent lack of match practice with his former club - and afterwards thanked the United fans for the rapturous welcome he received.


Mata told MUTV: "I'm so grateful. From the first minute, from the warm-up they [the fans] have been amazing for me. I will just try to give this confidence back on the pitch.
"It was a very special day for me. My first game - my debut - with a

Young: Goal one of my best

Ashley Young was delighted to get on the scoresheet during Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Cardiff City and move closer to his targeted goal tally for the season. 


The United winger was a standout performer against the Bluebirds, providing the cross which led to Robin van Persie breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute before netting the winner with a powerful 25-yard effort in the second half at Old Trafford.


Young has now scored three times in his last seven appearances,

Defected governors absent at PDP suit

Nyako, Wamakko, Kwakwanso and Lamido

The five governors who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on Monday shunned a suit filed by the PDP in a bid to remove them from office.

PDP had asked the Abuja Federal High Court  to sack the five governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara) – on the grounds that by their defection, they had forfeited their offices.

The suit was slated to commence on Monday but

N’Assembly: PDP, LP, others unite to confront APC

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

An alliance of lawmakers from different political parties emerged at the House of Representatives on Monday with an avowal to protect the Nigerian democracy and nation.

The lawmakers in the alliance called their group, National Unity Group.

The NUG, dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers, has the Labour Party, Accord Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance members in the House coming together to confront opposition All Progressives Congress, which had vowed to ground the Federal Government. The new group’s slogan is “No to Anarchy” and it vowed to meet the APC’s threat with “robust resistance.”

But the APC lawmakers in the House,

B’Haram kills 74 in church, village

News By Punch

Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday evening attacked another  village in Borno  State,   killing a soldier and 51 other persons.

About 16 others, including policemen  and traders, were injured  while  300 houses were  set ablaze  by the insurgents  in Kawuri, Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

Another  set of the Boko Haram fighters,   armed with guns and explosives, had earlier on Sunday  killed 22 people at a  church service in  Waga Chakawa, Adamawa State.

The Kawuri  village  attackers were said to have planted several explosives in  the community  after attacking

Ministers with political ambitions should resign – President

News By Punch:         President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan   may have  given ministers who have political ambitions to resign voluntarily latest by first week of February.

The PUNCH gathered  from a very competent source in Abuja on Monday, that most of those affected   are ministers who plan to contest governorship elections in their states.

The source, who added that Jonathan was mulling a cabinet shake-up in February, however,  said the minister had not resigned  because they  were not  sure that they would get the governorship   tickets in their states. He said, “The President cannot wait

APC senators ignore party directive, screen service chiefs

News By Punch:   National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande

Seven  members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Monday  dared the leadership of their  party by participating  in the screening of the Chief of Defence Staff  and  service chiefs recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The  APC had  last week directed  its members in the National Assembly to block the passage of all legislative bills, including the 

INEC releases timetable for Ekiti, Osun gov polls

News By Punch

INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday announced June 21 and August 9  respectively for the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

The INEC Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, in the breakdown of activities for the Ekiti poll said, “April 14 is the “last date for the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries.”While campaigns for the elections in Ekiti State will commence on March 23 and ends on June 19, the collection of  forms for the election by political parties is scheduled to begin on April 1.

The commission fixed April 21 as the

SSS releases El-Rufai

News By PUNCH

The State Security Service released the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, in the early hours of Tuesday after quizzing the ex-minister for about 15 hours.

El-Rufai, who reported to the SSS Abuja office at about 9.30am on Monday, was released some minutes after midnight. The bail conditions of the All Progressives Congress chief was not known as of the time of filing this report. The former minister was summoned by the SSS for what the security agency described as provocative and inciting comments.


El-Rufai was reported to have said there would be violence if the 2015 elections are not free and fair.

Nepotism and Scandal: Miss SA owes us answers

Miss SA could be about to make headlines in the local entertaintment industry, but for all the wrong reasons at this point in time! We can exclusively reveal that Miss SA is being accused of breaking their own rules, using nepotism to help give a contestant an advantage that others don't have. Whether the organisers are aware of this or not remains to be seen. The contestant in question is Tidimalo Sethlako, who is believed to be related to Miss SA judge, Black Coffee. 


The last thing Black Coffee needs is controversy, following the cheating allegations that emerged last year, however it seems he and his wife are at the forefront of another controversy as they have facilitated a family member's entry into the

ZAlebs Diary: Bryan Adams' Bare Bones Tour

“Bare Bones” was the theme for the latest Bryan Adams tour to South Africa. The title couldn’t be more accurate, as the entire band was ditched, portraying the essence of who Bryan Adams is. In Bryan’s own words, this tour was about “bringing 30 years of music down to its core- acoustic guitar and voice.” This wasn’t always completely accurate however, as many songs featured the talented muso pianist ‘Gary’ on a stunning grand piano. The combination of the soulful piano playing, delicate acoustic guitar and custom voice, led many an audience member (including myself) to the verge of tears.

Daft Punk, Macklemore, Lorde all win big at Grammy's

The smell of solid gold fills the air in Hollywood this morning as a handful of artists will be carrying their (Probably heavy) Grammy Awards from last night.

There will also be the faint smell of disappointment as many of Hollywood's heavyweights walked away empty handed. Grammy night belonged to Daft Punk and Macklemore. The former, an example of how to really make a come back after several years of relative quietness. The latter, a clear indicator that brains and musical talent still exist in mainstream music. Many big names will have been disappointed not to take anything home last

Femi Kuti loses out again

Femi Kuti has reportedly lost out on winning a Grammy for the fourth time in a row.

According to reports, the afrobeat singer who was nominated in the World Music category for his 2013 album No Place For My Dream, lost out to a tie between winners Gipsy Kings and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.


He previously lost out to Panamanian salsa singer Ruben Blades in

D'banj embraces agriculture campaign

Popular Nigerian artiste D'banj on Monday said he would take to farming to encourage youths to embrace agriculture and fight poverty.

D'banj said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Ikeja, during the launch of ONE’s Year of Agriculture campaign that his action was to explore another area of opportunities. NAN reports that ONE is an international, non-partisan, non-profit, advocacy and campaigning organisation aimed at eradicating poverty and preventable diseases in the world through public awareness.


D'banj said that during his meeting with the One Organisation in

We would rather go to school than beg — Street kids

News By Punch

Street kids who beg to survive tell ARUKAINO UMUKORO that they would rather go to school than beg.

From a distance, our correspondent watched as five-year-old Garba Isa and nine-year-old Kabiru Mohammed went after motorists and passers-by, begging for alms on the LASU-Igando Road, Iyana-Iba, Ojo, Lagos. Sometimes, they appeared frustrated; at other times, they seemed animated and forceful, peering into the windows of vehicles as if their lives depended on the motorists.

They were not alone. Many other children, boys and girls of different ages, beg at the intersection. Our correspondent spotted another child, who looked no more than

Northern elders’ misguided salvo

News By Punch

IN a country where the level of insecurity and political tension continue to reach unprecedented heights, the stated resolve of the Northern Elders Forum to press criminal charges against the former Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, for alleged acts of extrajudicial killings committed by his men, can only drive the country further down the path of uncertainty.

As the military and other security personnel put their lives on the line to protect the territorial integrity of the country, it should not be asking for too much to expect, in return, the support and goodwill of all right-thinking Nigerians. But this does not seem to be the case now; if the NEF should have its partisan way, the soldiers should not

Rivers police claim arrest of 320 B’Haram suspects

THE police command in Rivers State on Sunday said its men had arrested 320 persons suspected to be members of the violent Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

The suspects were said to have been in a convoy of 17 buses when they were nabbed at about 5am on Sunday between the border of Imo and Rivers states. Young women were said to be among the arrested suspects. The convoy of the suspected insurgents was said to have been led by a man identified as Bala Dambam and they were said to be coming from Jigawa State, in buses belonging to a transport firm owned by a former Inspector General of Police.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, who confirmed the

Hoodlums vandalise buildings, 50 cars in Lagos

News by Punch

Some suspected hoolums  invaded Olaiya Street, Mafoluku in the Oshodi Isolo area of Lagos State on Sunday morning.

They vandalising no fewer than 50 vehicles and some buildings, including that of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Tree of Life parish. The residents said the men, identified as Garage Boys, numbering over 100 and armed with bottles, cutlasses and other weapons, attacked the area and did the damage around 2am.

The residents said it was the fourth time the group would wreak such havoc without any challenge from policemen that usually come after the harm had been done.

PUNCH Metro  gathered that the Sunday morning attack was a reprisal for an earlier onslaught against the Garage Boys by the Alagbole Boys, another notorious group in the area. While the cultists unleashed the mayhem, our correspondent learnt that residents were holed up in their houses for fear of being killed by the rampaging gang who dared residents to come out.

A secondary school student, Bose Abidogun, said she woke up around 2am and began taking note of the incident. In her account obtained by our correspondent, she said,

Atiku: Dilemma of a political strategist in 2015

News By Punch

The invitation extended to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, by the All Progressives  Congress and the appointment of Adamu Mu’azu as national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, appears to have put the famed political strategist in a fix,  writes OLUSOLA FABIYI.

A former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, is not a new swimmer in the Nigeria’s murky political waters. He has been in politics for long enough to know how unpredictable Nigerian politicians could be. Followers of history would recall how Atiku was forced out of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party by his former boss, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, prior to the 2007 presidential election. Desirous of a shot at the Presidency, Atiku teamed up with politicians in the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, where he was handed the party’s ticket.

He lost the final contest to late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was the candidate of the PDP. As the race for the 2011 presidential election drew nearer, Atiku dumped the ACN and

17 PDP senators’ll defect to APC this week –Saraki

Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki

News By Punch

No fewer than 17 senators of the Peoples Democratic Party will this week defect to the All Progressives Congress,  Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said.

In an interview with journalists in Ilorin on Sunday, Saraki said the concerned senators had already consulted with their senatorial districts. He added that they had signed the letter and perfected all other strategies for their defection. This move is in spite of the overtures made to them and the reconciliatory efforts of the PDP and its new Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

“We are going to formally defect. Before we started we were already 19 senators. Then Jigawa pulled out.  We have about

Mu’azu not under EFCC investigation, says PDP

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) says its new National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, is not being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Olisa Metuh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary of the party, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.


"Such reports linking Mu'azu with the EFCC investigation publications are mischievous and calculated to mislead the public. They are completely false and baseless,’’ he said. Metuh said the reports were part of a scheme by PDP’s opponents to

Italy minister resigns amid abuse of power, corruption probes

Italy's Agriculture Minister resigned Sunday amid allegations of abuse of power over the appointment of staff in the public healthcare system and in the wake of an investigation into the management of European Union funds for agriculture.

"I am resigning as minister. I cannot remain part of a government which has not defended my honour," Nunzia De Girolamo said on Twitter. De Girolamo was accused this month of exerting improper influence over the choice of healthcare managers in the city of Benevento in the Campania region, following revelations in the media of phone-tapped conversations in 2012.

Oklahoma executes second inmate with controversial drug

The US state of Oklahoma executed a second inmate Thursday by administering a new drug that has sparked controversy over suffering the condemned may suffer while dying.

Kenneth Hogan, 52, was put to death in the southwestern state. He was declared dead at 6:30 (0030 GMT Friday) at McAlester prison, spokesman Jerry Massie told AFP.


Hogan received a mix of drugs that included a lethal dose of pentobarbital, an anesthetic commonly used to euthanize animals that the state acquired from a compounding pharmacy unregulated at the federal level.


Earlier this month, the state used the cocktail for the first time to put to death Michael Lee Wilson, who said he could feel his "whole body burning" as

Prominent Obama critic indicted for campaign fraud

 A conservative commentator known for his fierce criticism of President Barack Obama has been indicted on charges of campaign finance fraud, US prosecutors said Thursday.

India-born Dinesh D'Souza courted controversy last year for his political documentary "2016: Obama's America," a critique of the US leader that followed his 2010 book "The Roots of Obama's Rage."


The US Attorney's Office in Manhattan said the 52-year-old had

Use condoms, they are good for you!

Many should know by now that forgoing condoms during sex puts them at a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases or getting pregnant every other month, but they still prefer not to use it.

According to a recent study conducted by the Society for Family Health, 80 per cent of the 1.8 billion sexual activities that occur in Nigeria yearly take place without condom use.

The report states that in spite of its scientifically proven efficacy in reducing the spread of the dreaded HIV infection in  the country, eight out of every 10 Nigerian men do not use condom during sexual intercourse, while the women do not insist on men wearing condoms either.

Why is condom not popular in Nigeria? Though it is debatable, many are

SSS summons El-Rufai, warns against inciting statements

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai

The  State Security Service   has  invited a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,  to appear at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday (today) over a statement attributed to him in the Thursday edition of  a national daily newspaper (not The PUNCH).

El-Rufai,  who is also the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,  was said to have been invited to clarify the statement  in which he allegedly said   that “the next election  are  likely to be violent and that  many people are likely going to die.”

He was also quoted as having said  that “the only alternative left to get power is to take it by force.”

His  Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, told   our correspondent through a text

Drama as Bamidele leaves APC for LP

Opeyemi Bamidele


News by PUNCH

A former Leader of the All Progressives Congress caucus in the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, on Thursday formally informed the House that he was no longer a member of the APC. He has now joined the Labour Party. He told members that his reason for leaving APC dated back to the start of merger talks among the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Bamidele added that he opposed the merger from the beginning and did not wish that “my party, the ACN,” should be part of the merger. As he made his explanations, LP members, Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers, among others were seen shaking hands with him

Wenger surprised about Mata’s transfer to United

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, has expressed his surprise over a potential move from Chelsea to Manchester United, involving Juan Mata.

Multiple reports claim that the Blues have accepted a bid for the Spaniard and a deal would be completed as early as this weekend. Wenger, who is a keen admirer of the playmaker, stated that the potential transfer, raises more questions about the January transfer market.
“I am surprised because Juan Mata is a great player and Chelsea sell a great

Genevieve Nnaji seals deal with Etisalat

Genevieve Nnaji has reportedly signed a deal with telecommunication company Etisalat.

According to reports, the Nollywood actress started talks with the company a few weeks ago and is now an official ambassador.


NET reports Genevieve was officially welcomed by the company on Twitter where they wrote, "We officially welcome @GenevieveNnaji1 as an Etisalat Ambassador for the #Easyflex. We do quality not quantity."

Omotola's new single: Barren land

Actor, singer and fashion icon Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has released her new single, Barren land, from her upcoming album, Me, Myself and Eyes.

The album is her second one to date, and is being used by Amnesty International for their campaigns. Many have called her music "inspirational".

The Nollywood star and one of Time Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ in 2013 recently took a break from the music industry, but seems to be back with

Defected lawmakers must lose seats, PDP insists

Members during plenary at the floor of the Nigeria House of Representatives

The Peoples Democratic Party is insisting that its members in the National Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress must lose their seats.

The PDP told an Abuja Federal High Court so in its preliminary objection to a suit filed by Senator Bello Hayatu and 50 others, including members of the House of Representatives who defected to the APC, to stop their seats from being declared vacant.

PDP, its National Chairman, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Independent National Electoral Commissioners are listed as the defendants in the suit, which came up for hearing on