Buhari beats Jonathan inside Aso Villa – Punch newspaper

President Jonathan

By Olalekan Adetayo

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) defeated President Goodluck Jonathan in the elections conducted inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

There are two polling units-Unit 021 and 022-located side-by-side within the premises of the seat of power.

Akwa Ibom election: Itu rejects Akpabio’s bags of rice

Governor Godswill Akpabio

By Nse Peter

Governor Godswill Akpabio’s last minutes effort to get the support of the people of Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State for the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has reportedly failed, as the Paramount Ruler of the area, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang is said to have rejected bags of rice sent to the people by the governor.

(Full text) Jonathan’s broadcast to Nigerians on tomorrow’s presidential election

President Goodluck Jonathan

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR ON THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS,FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

 Dear Compatriots,

1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the past four years.

Breaking: Supreme Court dismisses Frank Okon’s suit seeking to sack Akpabio

Frank Okon: End of an ambition?

Supreme Court dismisses appeal filed by Mr. Frank Okon seeking the nullification of the election of Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

Source: NAN

AD candidate withdraws from presidential race, backs Buhari

Buhari: set to become Nigeria's neck president

By John Alechenu

Barely 48 hours to the Presidential election, the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Rafiu Salau, has withdrawn from the contest.

Salau announced his decision at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.

He said the AD had adopted the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari(retd.), as its candidate for Saturday’s polls.

A’ Ibom Gospel singer, Pastor Mary Ataiyene is dead

Messages posted on Pastor Mary Ataiyene’s Facebook wall suggest that the renowned gospel singer from Akwa Ibom State is dead. This is sad news indeed for the Christian community and the entire Akwa Ibom State. May her soul rest in peace!

How Jonathan met Atiku in Yola – Punch newspaper

Atiku Abubakar

By John Alechenu

Fresh facts have emerged on how President Goodluck Jonathan met former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Yola, Adamawa State, on Monday night.

It was learnt in Abuja on Tuesday that the President, in company with some of his security personnel and aides, paid an unscheduled visit to Abubakar’s private residence.

What is wrong with this picture?

This is naija for you! Please can you tell us what is wrong with this picture?

Don Etim story: I can’t protect you, Akwa Ibom CP tells PUNCHman

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba

By Etim Ekpimah

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Gabriel Achong, has said he has no business protecting the PUNCH correspondent in the state, Mr. Etim Ekpimah, from strange people threatening his life.

We rejected Jonathan’s dollars, says Arewa community

President Goodluck Jonathan

By Eniola Akinkuotu

Hundreds of Arewa leaders who received Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Lagos on Sunday, said they rejected hundreds of thousands of dollars which was offered to them by President Goodluck Jonathan when the President visited the state two weeks ago.

Akwa Ibom: State where commissioners, others, kneel for Akpabio’s wife – Punch newspaper

Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim on his knees for Gov. Akpabio's wife, Unoma

By Etim Ekpimah

Kneeling, bowing or prostrating for the wife of Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, is a common feature in Akwa Ibom state.
Those who do not oblige to this concept are often considered to be anti-Akpabio’s administration.

Photo of Don Etim kneeling before Akpabio’s wife sparks outrage

Mr. Don Etim kneeling down to discuss with Akpabio's wife

By Nse Peter

A photograph showing the Commissioner for Works in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Don Etim kneeling in the public before Governor Godswill Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, has sparked outrage on the Internet.

Udom should distance himself from Akpabio, says Prof. Des Wilson

Mr. Udom Emmanuel (middle) with Gov. Akpabio (right)

By Nse Peter

Renowned Communications Arts lecturer, Prof. Des Wilson has advised the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to distance himself from Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Uma Ukpai reveals: “At the age of 10, my cousin taught me how to smoke Indian hemp”

Rev. Uma Ukpai

By Nse Peter

A renowned Nigerian clergy, Rev. Uma Ukpai has let out shocking revelations about his life as a teenager, saying he was ‘already an established criminal’ at the age of nine.

Exclusive! How Unoma Akpabio forced Akwa Ibom Speaker to ‘sack’ four legislators

Unoma Akpabio: endangering democracy in Akwa Ibom State

By Nse Peter

The wife of Akwa Ibom governor, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio may have been the unseen hand behind the controversial sacking of four members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly recently, Think Akwa Ibom! can authoritatively revealed.

2015 election: Anxiety in PDP over Mu’azu’s ‘resignation’

Adamu Mu' azu

By Imam Bello

There was anxiety yesterday over Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Mu’azu’s job.
It was widely rumoured that the party chief had resigned.
Mu’azu could not be reached for comments last night. A source said the situation was unclear, adding that PDP leaders were battling to stop “a major division” in the party ahead of the March 28 presidential election.

2015 election: Umana resumes campaign tour, visits Itu today

File photo: Umana (3rd from left) with his campaign team

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State will resume its Governorship Campaign tour of local government areas in the state on Tuesday 10th March, with the first rally holding in Itu at the Local Government Secretariat grounds by 10am.

APC open to continuous discussion on resource control, says Osinbajo

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that “resource control is something Nigerians should keep negotiating because if you produce resources you ought to be adequately compensated for it.”

Yemi Osinbajo who stated this, Wednesday, during an interaction in Uyo with youths drawn from the South South region of the country, said APC administration will promote true federalism in Nigeria.

Osinbajo gave reasons why ethnic-based groups like Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Arewa Consultative Forum where flourishing in Nigeria. “It is the failures of government that make Nigerians feel safe and comfortable under groups like Afenifere, Arewa and others.

2015 governorship: I did not endorse Udom Emmanuel – Prof. Des Wilson

Mr. Udom Emmanuel

Prof. Des Wilson has denied media reports that he has endorsed Udom Emmanuel, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State.

Des Wilson, a renowned communication arts teacher in the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, made this known in a message he posted, Saturday, on an Internet discussion group known as Ibom Forum hoisted under Yahoo! platform. He was reacting to the controversy that has trailed the reported endorsement of Mr. Udom Emmanuel by Ekid Peoples Union which he (Wilson) was in attendance.

Essien Udim people condemn Unoma Akpabio for insulting Umana

Mrs. Unoma Akpabio

The people of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have asked Governor Godswill Akpabio’s wife, Unoma to tender apology to the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state, Umana Okon Umana for making insulting remarks against him.

2015 election: N26.5 billion Eket oil spill money haunts PDP, Akpabio

File photo: Scene of the October 2013 protest against Mobil in Eket

Few weeks to the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, one question that Governor Godswill Akpabio and his Peoples Democratic Party must answer, and convincingly so, is: what went wrong with N26.5billion supposedly paid by Mobil Producing Nigeria to Eket, Ibeno, Onna and Esit Eket as compensation for the November 2012 oil spill?

2015 election: Presidency doubts Mu’azu’s loyalty –Investigation

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

By Olusola Fabiyi

There were indications that the Presidency may have put the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, under close watch, The Punch has learnt.

Seven PDP governors to join APC, says Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Musa Odoshimokhe

No fewer than seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors will join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum Owelle Rochas Okorocha said in Lagos yesterday.

Jonathan, Mu’azu clash as PDP’s hate campaign backfires

President Jonathan (first from right) and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu' azu

By Gbade Ogunwale

A NEW crisis has broken out in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The crisis has been sparked by the party’s presidential campaign organisation’s and First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan’s attacks on some of the North’s prominent politicians.

The hate campaign has ignited a row between President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.