Project Fame Season 8 Grand Finale; Jeffrey Akoh Emerges As Winner

Finally it's the Grand Finale of the Project Fame West Africa,Season 8.It all started eight months ago when auditions took place several cities in West Afica.The musical competition has been filled with fun,excitement and tension.The six finalists were Ada,Anderson,Arewa,Dehinde,Jeff and Pearl.

The show was entertaining as contestants performed in collaboration with some A-list artistes before the winner was announced.

Up first was the 3rd runner-up,Ada Tosanwumi who was awarded with a cash prize of two millio Naira, followed by the 2nd runner-up,Anderson Amos,who also went home with two million Naira and a brand new saloon car,and then the 1st runner-up,

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PDP Says Election Shift Is In The Nation's Interest

Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP)Presidential Campaign Organisation, has
expressed support for Independent National
Electoral Commission’s (INEC) postponement of the
general elections, saying it was in the nation`s
interest.
The party’s position is contained in a statement by
the Director of Media and Publicity of campaign
organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on Sunday in
Abuja.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had at a news
conference on Saturday night, announced the
postponement of the general elections earlier
scheduled to commence on Saturday 14, by six
weeks.
Jega said that the Presidential and National
Assembly elections slated for February 14 would
now hold on March 28, while Governorship and
State Houses of Assembly fixed for February 28 had
been shifted to April 11.
He explained that the postponement was predicated
on advice by the nation’s security chiefs, who said
that the military had a major operation against the
insurgency in the North-East.
“Rather than do an inconclusive elections, we had
better wait until there is adequate security,” Jega
had said, and added that the decision to postpone
the elections was reached after wide consultations
with critical stakeholders.
Fani-Kayode said that the organisation concurred
with the decision to shift the elections, stressing
that it was in the interest of deepening democracy
in the country and in national interest.
“INEC must be commended for showing the
courage to shift the elections, after acknowledging
the fact that its state of preparedness was not 100
per cent.”
“Since this decision has been taken in the interest
of deepening democracy and in national interest, we
accept it in good faith.”
“We commend INEC's courage and obvious
commitment to ensuring a free and fair election,”
he said.
He said that with the postponement, INEC had
allayed the fears of many Nigerians that may not
have the opportunity to vote for the candidates and
parties of their choice on election days.
Fani-Kayode maintained that INEC had by the
decision, ensured that no one would be
disenfranchised and had helped to guarantee the
safety and security of Nigerians during the
elections.
March 28
He added that the shift would enable the nation’s
security agencies to put better measures in place to
secure the North-East and ensure that elections
could hold in the region.
He, however, disagreed with All Progressives
Congress’ (APC) stance on issues of the polls shift.
“By insisting that the elections should be conducted
on February 14, the opposition was not only
dangerously flirting with chaos, but also putting our
country firmly on the path of confrontation, division,
injustice, disaster and destruction.”
“This is especially so, given the fact that no less
than 34 per cent of eligible voters have not been
able to access their Permanent Voter Cards
(PVCs).”
“A situation where such a large percentage of our
people would have been disenfranchised is
unacceptable and the fact that the APC was
insensitive to that fact speaks volumes,” he said.
The campaign organisation’s spokesman said that
INEC must have drawn a useful guide from
available security reports from the North-East,
following acts of insurgency.
He urged PDP supporters to remain calm and
patient, stressing that the party was strong.
“Our candidate is confident; our course is just; our
God is mighty and our victory is assured. No matter
what happens and no matter how long it takes, we
shall prevail,” he said.
via;News24

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US Is Disappointed By Decision To Postpone Presidential Election

Washington -The top US diplomat said Saturday he
was "deeply disappointed" by Nigeria's decision to
postpone elections and issued a call for calm.
The six-week delay was announced after security
chiefs said the military needed more time to secure
areas under the control of Boko Haram, the Islamist
extremists who have seized swathes of territory in
northeastern Nigeria.
"The United States is deeply disappointed by the
decision to postpone Nigeria's presidential election,
which had been scheduled for February 14," Kerry
said in a statement.
Also Read: Presidential election delayed until March
28
"Political interference with the Independent National
Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is
critical that the government not use security
concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic
process," he stressed.
Kerry said the international community "will be
watching closely as the government prepares for
elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United
States underscores the importance of ensuring that
there are no further delays."
Since the turn of the year, the militant group has
increased the intensity of its campaign, in part to
further undermine the democratic process, which it
views as un-Islamic.
"As I reaffirmed when I visited Lagos last month,
we support a free, transparent, and credible
electoral process in Nigeria and renew our calls on
all candidates, their supporters, and Nigerian
citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related
violence," Kerry added.
The insurgency has killed at least 13 000 people
and pushed more than a million from their homes
since 2009.
via;News24

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Presidential Election Has Been Postponed To March 28!

Abuja - Nigeria has postponed its presidential
election on security grounds as the Boko Haram
conflict intensifies, handing a potential lifeline to the
PDP as it battles a tough challenge from the
opposition.
The six-week delay was announced Saturday after
security chiefs said the military needed more time
to secure areas under the control of Boko Haram.
Presidential and parliamentary elections will now be
held on March 28 instead of February 14, said
Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
Gubernatorial and state assembly elections will be
held on April 11, he added.
Jega said security chiefs advised that the election
should be postponed for six weeks as military
operations in the northeast left troops unavailable
to secure the vote.
"If the security of personnel, voters, election
observers and election materials cannot be
guaranteed, the lives of innocent young men and
women and the prospect of free, fair and credible
elections will be greatly jeopardised," he told
reporters.
President Goodluck Jonathan has been locked in a
tight race with the main opposition candidate,
former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
But with the campaign now extended, analysts said
the advantage could swing in favour of Jonathan's
People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The United States said it was "deeply disappointed"
by the delay, with US Secretary of State John Kerry
warning the Government against using "security
concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic
process".
The PDP, never out of power since Nigeria returned
to civilian rule in 1999, has the advantage of
incumbency and access to greater funds than
Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC has repeatedly accused the government of
trying to scupper the vote and APC national
chairman John Odigie-Oyegun called the delay
"highly provocative", blasting it as "a major setback
for Nigerian democracy".
He added: "I strongly appeal to all Nigerians to
remain calm and desist from violence and any
activity which will compound this unfortunate
development."
Dawn Dimolo of the Africapractice consulting firm
said the delay could allow the PDP to claw back
votes -- but the move could also boost the
opposition.
via;News24

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Photos From Emir of Kano,Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's Coronation Ceremony

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
has finally been officially confirmed in a
coronation ceremony.
He will now be referred to as Emir
Muhammad Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of
Kano under the Fulani Dynasty. He has
been presented with his staff of office by
the king makers of the Emirate council
signifying the official beginning of his time
as the Emir of Kano.
Amongst notable people present there were
APC presidential candidate, General
Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon,
General Abdulrahman Dambazau, Sultan of
Sokoto, Emir of Dutse, Father Mathew
Kuka, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal,
Governors Kashim Shettima, Babangida
Aliyu, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ibrahim
Gaidam.
-Stargist

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President Jonathan And Prof. Osinbajo Worshipped Together At RCCG

There is increasing tension as the 2015
elections date draws nearer.
Two of the crucial candidates President
Jonathan and APC vice presidential
candidate, Prof Osinbajo who believe in
God’s absolute control over all things,
worshiped together at the Redeemed
Christian Church of God Holy Ghost Service
yesterday.
President Jonathan sat between Pastor
Adeboye and his wife also went as far as
climbing the church’s podium to speak to
the congregation.
This is a very interesting election
period……
-Stargist

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Election To Be Postponed For Six Weeks

Dakar— INEC will postpone the February 14
presidential and legislative elections for six weeks
to give a new multinational force time to secure
northeastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram,
an official close to the commission told The
Associated Press on Saturday.
Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went
ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large
swath of the northeast and commit mayhem that
has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.
The official, who is knowledgeable of the
discussions, said the Independent National Electoral
Commission will announce the postponement later
Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops
from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the
insurgents from a dozen towns and villages in the
past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by more
countries are planned.
African Union officials and representatives of
countries supporting the initiative were ending a
three-day meeting Saturday in Yaounde,
Cameroon's capital, to finalize details of a 7,500-
strong force from Nigeria and its neighbors Chad,
Cameroon, Benin and Niger. Details of funding, with
the Africans wanting the United Nations and
European Union to pay, may delay the mission.
Nigeria's home-grown extremist group has
responded with attacks on one town in Cameroon
and two in Niger this week. Officials said more than
100 civilians were killed and 500 wounded in
Cameroon. Niger said about 100 insurgents and one
civilian died in attacks Friday. Several security
forces from both countries were killed.
International concern has increased along with the
death toll: Some 10,000 killed in the uprising in the
past year compared to 2,000 in the four previous
years, according to the U.S. Council on Foreign
Relations.
Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan's
administration have supported postponing the Feb.
14 vote.
Any delay is opposed by an opposition coalition
fielding former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari,
though the opposition stands to take most votes in
the northeast.
Supporters of both sides are threatening violence if
their candidate does not win. Some 800 people
were killed in riots in the mainly Muslim north after
Buhari, a Muslim, lost 2011 elections to Jonathan, a
Christian from the south.
Analysts say the vote is too close to call, the most
tightly contested election since decades of military
dictatorship ended in 1999.
Jonathan's party has won every election since then
but the failure of the military to curb the 5-year
Islamic uprising, growing corruption and an
economy hit by halved oil prices have hurt the
president of Africa's biggest oil producer and most
populous nation of about 170 million.
A postponement also will give electoral officials
more time to deliver some 30 million voter cards.
The commission had said the non-delivery of cards
to nearly half of the 68.8 million registered voters
was not a good reason to delay the vote.
-News24

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"President Goodluck Has Ruined Nigeria's Economy"-APC

Abuja - The President Goodluck Jonathan
administration has ruined running the country's
economy aground with a combination of incompetence,
corruption and profligacy hence Nigerians need to vote
it out of office, the All Progressives Congress said.
In a statement late Monday, the main opposition party
argued the electorate could not afford to “reward” the
President with another four-year term.
“The only reason the Jonathan administration and the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been engaging
in a campaign of mudslinging rather than of issues is
to distract the attention of Nigerians from the very
serious state of the nation's economy, but we have
decided to redirect the ongoing electioneering
campaign to issues,” the party said in a statement its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
issued.
It said whereas Jonathan had been promising that he
would create 2 million jobs annually if re-elected, the
reality on the ground did not support that pledge,
especially because his administration failed to create
meaningful jobs when oil prices were lucrative.
“The Jonathan administration has been lying to
Nigerians on the issue of employment,” said APC.
“The Works Minister said Nigeria is like one huge
construction site, with many people employed in this
sector. But the truth of the matter is that the biggest
construction firms in Nigeria have been retrenching,
rather than employing.”
The opposition party also said the Federal Government
had “pauperized” most states and made it impossible
for them to pay the salaries of their workers by
refusing to refund the huge funds they spent on federal
projects.
For example, the Federal Government owes Jigawa
State N13 billion, the party alleged.
“More than anything else, unprecedented corruption
under the Jonathan administration has dealt a death
blow to the economy,” APC said.
The party is projected to offer Jonathan’s PDP a stiff
challenge in the polls scheduled for February 14 and
28.
- News24

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Dakore's Second Daughter Is One!

Dakore Akande, Nollywood actress and
wife of millionaire, Olumide Akande is
celebrating her second daughter’s 1st
birthday.
The lovely mom of two who shields her
daughters from the media says she could
not resist sharing them today as her
baby, Dasola Zahra is now 1!
Happy Birthday!

-stargist

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President Goodluck Jonathan Accused Of Falsifying Age

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan is being accused of falsifying his age for political gains, reports NewsDay

Fresh facts have emerged to show that the President was actually not born on November 20, 1957 as being claimed.

Accounts from the President himself and others who have provided information suggest President Jonathan was born several years before his stated date of birth.

Jonathan while giving  giving his Christmas Carol address in 2011 said he came to Port Harcourt in 1955 when the city was the only one that had electricity then.
Goodluck Jonathan’s account not only shows that he was born before 1955, but that he had cognitive ability to recognize electricity and to recollect this recognition.
via;News24

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Omokehinde Jolade Celebrates 20th Anniversary In Abuja

Nollywood Star Omotola J Ekeinde began her 20th Anniversary in Nollywood celebration in Abuja last week.
  The 36 year old stepped out of her etch limousine rocking a high waist Omosexy by Ada pants which she combined with a pale pink silk blouse, black jacket and black heels. She finished the look with a pair of Sunglasses and a Hermes Birkin bag.
via;stargist

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Man Suspected Of Making Bombs For Boko Haram Apprehended In Pokistum

Kano - A man suspected of being behind the manufacture of explosives used in a series of Boko Haram suicide attacks has been arrested in northeast Nigeria, a senior police officer told AFP on Tuesday. The man, identified only as Ba'na, was held in the Arikime area of Potiskum after several weeks of surveillance, said the officer, who was involved in the Sunday arrest. Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, has been hit by a wave of bombings in recent months, including a suicide attack on a secondary school in November 10 in which 58 people were killed. On January 18, at least four people died in an attack on a bus station, while the previous weekend two women wearing suicide vests killed six people at a market and two died in a car bombing outside a police station. The police officer, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said Ba'na was in his mid-thirties and had admitted making the bombs. "He confessed to being responsible for the manufacture of the explosives used in at least three suicide attacks and the car explosion outside the divisional police station," he added. Nine alleged accomplices were also arrested in a hideout in the town hours after Ba'na's arrest. Ba'na allegedly made the explosives used in the November school attack, the January 10 car bombing and January 11 market blasts, the source said. He was said to have moved to Potiskum from the state capital Damaturu three years ago and worked as a stonemason and water vendor before getting married. "He was quite good at his disguise and his mason and water vending jobs gave him perfect cover," the officer said. via News24

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GEJ Claims PDP Has No Owner

Jos - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday described his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the "only truly democratic party where everyone is the same and with equal stake’’.

"PDP is the only party that has no owner; it is a democratic group with no landlord and tenant,’’ Jonathan said in his campaign in Jos, Plateau.

He urged that internal disagreements in the party should be resolved using the its machinery, and cautioned against the temptation to defect to another political party over the slightest disagreement.

He said that disagreements arising from primary elections were "normal in every human situation", adding that political parties usually got stronger after resolving such internal crises and disagreements.

The president commended former Plateau governor, Sen. Joshua Dariye, for returning to the PDP after his sojourn in the Labour Party and expressed the party’s willingness to be fair to all.

He said that politicians should take advantage of the freedom offered by the growing democratic culture to embrace dialogue to make for more permanent mutual trust.

He challenged Plateau people to work toward returning the state to its former status as the most peaceful in country, and stressed the need for them to emulate leaders like late Solomon Lar and Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

He promised to make Nigeria a much better place if given a second term, saying that more sectors would enjoy massive intervention as was currently witnessed in the rail, agriculture and power sectors.

"We must collectively fight our problems the way we fought and defeated the Ebola virus that would have been a calamity if it had become pandemic,’’ he said. 

- News24

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Labour Party Denies Endorsing GEJ

Akure - The Labour Party has denied endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 presidential election, reports Punch.

Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, National Chairman of the party, said the party had not taken any position on endorsing anybody for the election.

He berated the party’s BOT chairman, Dan Iwuanyanwu, for going ahead to announce that the party has endorsed President Jonathan without regard to the party’s hierarchy and processes.

He also slammed Iwuanyanwu for saying that the party was in support of the postponement of the scheduled elections.

Read more at Punch.
via;News24

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APC Claims Election Delay Would Mean Victory For Boko Haram

Abuja - Nigeria's opposition said Monday that delaying next month's election because of raging Boko Haram violence would mark "a victory" for the insurgents, and urged the government to respect the electoral calendar.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) charged the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with secretly backing postponement, and of using the Islamist attacks as justification.

"The truth is that the forthcoming elections terrify the PDP and the (President Goodluck) Jonathan administration to such an extent that they are looking for ways to postpone or scuttle the polls," APC spokesman Lai Mohammed said in a statement.

"Any postponement on the basis of the insurgency in the northeast will represent a victory for the terrorist group Boko Haram," he added.

The PDP has not come out in favour of pushing back the February 14 vote, but National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki has said election officials needed more time to distribute voter ID cards.

Violence in Boko Haram's northeastern strongholds has escalated dramatically in recent months, most recently with the weekend assault on Borno State capital Maiduguri that was repelled by armed forces.

Jonathan's position on a potential delay was left unclear in a statement released Sunday following his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The president said the May 29 date for inaugurating the winner of the election was "sacrosanct," but he made no specific comment on the inviolability of February 14 for voting.

"This is not reassuring enough," APC spokesman Mohammed said. "For us, the February 14th and 28th dates (of state governor and state assembly elections) are as sacrosanct as the handover date of May 29th."

Spokesman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kayode Idowu, told AFP Monday the body remains firmly committed to holding the election on February 14.

He denied reports published Monday in the APC-controlled Nation newspaper that the national security advisor had scheduled a meeting with the election chief to push for a delay.

Regarding Dasuki's argument that more time was needed to distribute voter cards, the APC said any claim of "INEC not being ready for the elections is sheer baloney".

- AFP

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Military Fights To Retrieve Monguno From Insurgents

Maiduguri - Nigerian troops backed by air strikes were fighting on Monday to recapture the northeastern town of Monguno from Boko Haram insurgents who had seized it a day earlier, security sources said.

The insurgents had launched several simultaneous attacks early on Sunday. One hit the outskirts and airport of the main northeastern city of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram's five-year-old insurgency, which it covets as the potential capital of an Islamic state.

They then hit two other towns, including Monguno, which lies on the shores of Lake Chad.

A defence spokesman said on Sunday evening that air strikes had been carried out take back the town after ground troops were forced to retreat.

"The operation resumed on Monguno this morning through air bombardment to dislodge the insurgents," a security source said.

At least 15 soldiers were killed along with more than over 25 civilians in the town on Monday, a source said.

Soldiers in Monguno said on Sunday they had fled because of the insurgents' superior fire power.

Monguno lies near the larger town of Baga, where a military base was taken over by Boko Haram in early January in an attack that left scores of civilians dead.

In a subsequent video, the insurgents claimed responsibility for the capture of Baga and said they had seized enough weapons to "annihilate Nigeria".

The conflict has intensified in the past year and the government's handling of the security situation is major issue in the campaign for a presidential election on Feb. 14 which pits President Goodluck Jonathan against former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.

In a visit to Nigeria on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States was committed to helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram but its ability to do so would hinge on how the well election is conducted.

Via;News24

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PDP Senatorial Candidate Duped By Tiwa Savage's Impostor

         An impostor of Tiwa Savage has duped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Lagos West in the forthcoming 2015 election, Segun Adewale, popularly known as Aeroland. 
 
         According to Daily Independent, the fake Tiwa Savage, who is now on the run, duped the Aeroland boss of N500,000, as part-payment to perform at his political declaration party. The politician only realised he had been duped when the Kelekele Love singer did not show up for the event. Presently, Aeroland is banking on the financial institution through which the money was paid to help get what is left of the amount, as a withdrawal has already occurred on the account.
[via];Stargist

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Niger Delta Militants Threatens To War If GEJ Loses Re-election

Yenogoa - Prominent Niger Delta militants have threatened to go to war if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the February 14 presidential election, reports NewsDay.

The militants said they will unleash violence on the country and take back Niger Delta oil should President Jonathan lose his re-election.

The warlords, who met at Government House,Yenagoa, stated that the President’s victory in the election is not negotiable.

Those in attendance at the meeting were Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force; Victor Ben Ebikabowei, aka, Boy Loaf; and Government Ekpudomenowei, aka, Tompolo.

Also in attendance were the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, and chairman of Amnesty Implementation Committee, Kingsley Kuku; Bayelsa state Governor, Seriake Dickson and his deputy; President General of Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri; among others.
[via];News24

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