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National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voters Education Committee of the Independent Electoral Commission , Festus Okoye, has said there is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states .

He said failure to do so will leave both states with constitutional logjam that would be difficult to resolve .

At a sensitisation forum for the media in Benin , Okoye noted that political parties must eschew violence , use of intemperate , inflammatory language designed to incite violence.

He said , “ Political parties and all the critical stakeholders in the electoral process must see the conduct of these elections as a national project that must be executed in strict compliance with all the safety protocols.

“ There is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of these elections as the alternative will leave the people of the two states with a constitutional logjam that may be difficult to resolve . Political parties must eschew violence . Political Parties and their candidates must eschew the use of intemperate , inflammatory and base language designed to inflame passions or incite violence .

“ On our part , we are determined and resolved to proceed with the conduct of the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections and all the outstanding bye -elections . In doing so , the Commission will not compromise the safety and welfare of its staff , ad – hoc staff as well as the voters . We will work closely with the security agencies to arrest threats and degrade acts of violence , ” he added .

He stated that the media was an important and indispensable component of the democratic process , assuring that the Commission would continue its robust partnership with the media as it sought to consolidate Nigerian democracy .

“ Hence , partnership with the media is critical in the preparation and delivery of the Commission ’ s messages and programmes to the Nigerian people. We therefore implore you to take time and understand and understudy the powers of the Commission within the context and ambit of the Constitution , the Electoral Act and the Regulations , Manuals and Guidelines in place for the smooth conduct of elections , ” he added .

Punch

The Federal Government says it is working with global health and research organisations who are developing COVID – 19 vaccines .

The Minister of Health , Dr . Osagie Ehanire , made this known during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 .

He also said Nigeria was planning with the organisations for the allocation of 2 billion vaccine doses as soon as they are available.

Ehanire said , “ Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organisation to finalise enrolment with the ACT – Access To COVID – 19 Tools Accelerator , a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring global organisations working on COVID- 19 vaccine development.

“ We also have interest in the COVAX Facility , which is a Gavi – supported initiative to procure and assure equitable access to vaccines as soon as they are available, especially for lower – income countries .

“ This will prioritise Nigeria for an allocation of a part of 2 billion vaccine doses that will be secured in a special plan to protect the interest of poorer countries . ”

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, as of Wednesday night , the country has recorded over 50 , 000 COVID- 19 infections and about 1 , 000 associated fatalities .

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Mali from all its decision-making bodies with immediate effect.

A statement by the community’s Directorate of Communications, indicated that the suspension is in line with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and will remain in place until effective constitutional order is reinstated in the country.

The sub-regional body said it had also closed all of the country’s land and air borders, stopped all economic, trade, and financial flows and transactions between ECOWAS member states and the country, urging all partners to do same.

ECOWAS has strongly condemned the mutiny among soldiers which was followed by the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita and called for his immediate released.

“Following its statement published on Aug. 18, reporting on an on-going mutiny within the Malian Armed Forces, ECOWAS has noted with great concern the seizure of power by Malian military putschists.

“This seizure of power intervenes within a difficult socio-political context.

“Indeed, ECOWAS recalls that a mediation process has been on-going during the past two months, with a view to finding a solution to this crisis.

“Following this power grab by Malian military putschists, which is likely to have a negative impact on peace and stability in Mali and in sub- region, ECOWAS utterly condemns the overthrowing of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita’s democratically elected government,” the community said in the statement.

It said that ECOWAS “categorically denies any kind of legitimacy to the putschists and demands the immediate reinstatement of the constitutional order.

“Reminds the military of their accountability for the safety and security of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita and officials arrested.

“Demands the immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and all official arrested.

“Suspends Mali from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies with immediate effect, as per the Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and this, until effective reinstatement of the constitutional order.

“Decides to close all land and air borders, as well as to stop all economical, trade and financial flows and transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali, and encourages all partners to do the same.

“Requests the immediate activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force, and demands the immediate implementation of sanctions against all putschists as well as their partners and collaborators.”

It added that in a bid to salvage the situation, the ECOWAS body has decides to dispatch a high-level delegation to ensure the country’ immediate return to constitutional order.

NAN

Some angry youths have staged a protest at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters located at the Eleyele area of Ibadan over the escape of Sunday Shodipe, the prime suspect in the serial killings in the Akinyele Local Government Area .

The PUNCH gathered that the youths stormed the police headquarters and the Commissioner of Police , Nwachukwu Enwonwu, attended to them.

However , some of the protesters were said to have become unruly and attacked the headquarters with stones and other missiles .

But the police were said to have promptly stopped it.

The Police Public Relations Officer , Olugbenga Fadeyi , when contacted by our correspondent on the telephone said some students protested .

He said , “ The CP and other senior police officers attended to them and answered all their questions .

“ You know students now, some of them got out of control but we were able to handle the situation professionally. They have gone back . ”

Shodipe, who was paraded on July 17 by the police , confessed to have killed some of the victims in the area.

But he escaped from the police custody on August 11 .

Punch

A building inside the Ile Oodua’ s Palace of Ooni of Ife was gutted by fire , causing panic in the ancient city .

A source in the palace confirmed the incident but said , “It is not major , people are only scared because the entrance to the palace was locked . ”

Administrative Officer of Osun State Fire Service , Fatai Aremu , confirmed the incident .

Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he wished to live beyond 100 so as to have more opportunities to celebrate with the Agura of Gbagura , Oba Sabur Bakare , Jamolu II .

Obasanjo was part of the dignitaries present at the first anniversary of the monarch held in Abeokuta .

Oba Bakare received the staff of office from former Ogun State Governor , Ibikunle Amosun , on May 21 , 2019 , as the 9 th Agura of Gbagura in Egbaland
The monarch while commemorating his anniversary held interdenominational service with believers of all faiths and commissioned a borehole for the community.

Obasanjo , who clocked 83 this year , while speaking at the interdenominational service , said he wished to be at the 20 th anniversary of the monarch.

He said , “ I will be here to celebrate your 20 years anniversary with you whether I am invited or not .

“ By the time I also partake in celebrating your 20 th anniversary with you , if God wishes , He can call me to come and meet Him in heaven because I know by that time, I will be above 100 or more . ”

The former president , however , advised the monarch to propagate unity among traditional rules in Yorubaland .

The Osun State Government has declared August 20 as a public holiday for hijrah – Muslims ’ new year.

This was contained in a press statement by Osun Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode .

The statement read , “The State Government of Osun wishes to inform the public that Thursday , August 20 , 2020 , shall be a work- free day across the State .

“ This is to commemorate the beginning of a new Islamic year – 1442 AH , and afford the Muslim Community in the State the opportunity of celebrating this year ’ s Hijrah.

“ The State Government wishes to emphasize that the holiday is no approval for large gatherings or unauthorized meetings under any guise . Residents are enjoined to observe the safety guidelines against COVID- 19 as outlined by the government and the NCDC .

“ All workers in the State are expected to resume work on Friday, August 21 , 2020 . ”

Malian President has said he was resigning to avoid “ bloodshed ” , hours after his arrest by troops in a sudden coup that followed a months- long political crisis in the fragile West African nation.

Rebel soldiers detained Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse on Tuesday afternoon and drove the pair to a military base in the town of Kati , near the capital Bamako , which they had seized that morning .

Jubilant crowds in the city centre , gathered to demand Keita ’ s resignation , had cheered the rebels as they made their way to the 75 – year -old ’ s official residence .

Keita appeared calm as he appeared in a state television broadcast after midnight to declare the dissolution of the government and national assembly , and said he had no choice but to resign with immediate effect .

“ If it pleased certain elements of our military to decide this should end with their intervention , do I really have a choice ?” he said of the day ’ s events.

“( I must ) submit to it , because I don ’ t want any bloodshed . ”

It was unclear whether Keita was still in custody at the Kati base , which in a twist of fate was also the site of the 2012 putsch that brought him to power .

AFP

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has told the Federal Government that the University Transparency and Accountability Solution , which it developed as an alternative to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System is read for integrity tests .

According to ASUU , the software for UTAS was unveiled and demonstrated to the Minister of Education and senior management staff of the Ministry of Education, including the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission , Prof . Abdulrasheed Abubakar .

The national President of ASUU , Prof . Biodun Ogunyemi , made this known during a press conference held at the Gwagwalada campus of the University of Abuja, attended by almost all its national officers .

But Ogunyemi maintained that it would not suspend its ongoing strike until the Federal Government honours its 2019 agreements .

“ It is our sincere hope that the government would not renege on its promise because the benefits of UTAS to the university system ( both public and private ) cannot be found in any other software in Nigeria today . Now that the union is close to meeting the government ’ s demand on an alternative to IPPIS, it is our sincere hope that the substantive issues in the ongoing strike action would be given the desired attention , ” he added .

The ASUU president also lamented that five months’ salaries of their members at the University of Maiduguri and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture , Umudike are still withheld by the Accountant-General of the Federation on account of non – registration on IPPIS.

“ Thousands of other academics across the Universities are suffering the same fate . So , while we counsel that government at both the federal and state levels must meet the Taskforce specified guidelines for reopening of educational institutions, we insist that all the arrears of the withheld salaries of our members in federal and state Universities must be paid immediately to pave for further discussion on the outstanding issues in the Memorandum of Action of February 7 2019 , ” he added .

Mutineering soldiers in Mali has detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse , one of their leaders said .

“ We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control , ” the leader , who requested anonymity , told AFP .

He added that the pair had been “ arrested ” at Keita ’ s residence in the capital Bamako.

Earlier , soldiers launched a mutiny from the nearby garrison town of Kati .

Another military official , who also declined to be named , said the president and prime minister were in an armoured vehicle en route to Kati .

AFP