Three more Ligue 1 games scheduled for this weekend, including the clash between Thierry Henry’s Monaco and local rivals Nice, have been postponed, the French league (LFP) said Thursday.

The postponement came amid fears of more violent “yellow vest” protests in France over rising living costs.

The LFP said Friday evening’s game at the Stade Louis II had been called off following a request by the government in the Mediterranean principality, “in collaboration” with authorities in the neighbouring French Alpes-Maritimes prefecture, which includes Nice.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/henry-vieiras-clash-postponed-in-france

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, were among eminent Nigerians who described the All Progressive Congress, APC led administration by President Muhammadu Buhari as an abysmal failure.

Atiku, Saraki and others stated this at Mapo Hall during the PDP South West Mega Rally which attracted huge party faithful, including former governor of Osun and Ogun States, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Ben Bruce and former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/buharis-government-is-an-abysmal-failure-atiku-saraki-others

No fewer than three political parties that were said to be members of the loose Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, have dissociated themselves from the reported endorsement of Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The parties are Kowa, GDPN and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“Kowa Party stands for transparency and accountability and we consider the CUPP process largely flawed and quite dubiously executed. We had nothing to do with it and are not aware”, the party said.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/sdp-gdpn-kowa-cupp-lied-we-didnt-endorse-atiku

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday dismissed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as unfit to be entrusted with the presidency of the country, describing the main opposition party’s flag bearer as “a merry-go-round and carnival-like politician with no focus or mission.”

Speaking in similar vein Vice President Yemi Osinbajo expressed confidence that the APC would win the forthcoming presidential election, saying Atiku would be no match for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/again-tinubu-attacks-atiku-says-hes-not-fit-for-presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged his supporters not to panic, saying his return to power in 2019 is non-negotiable.

He also described those seeking to unseat him in next year’s general elections as enemies who stole from the nation blindly and should be avoided.

He made the disclosure at the National Consultative Forum of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups held in Abuja.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/do-not-panic-ill-win-2019-election-buhari-tells-supporters

Nigerian opposition coalition may collapse before the 2019 general election and give way for the the re-emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The respected and world renowned media outfit, Economist, is reported by the Nation to have made the prediction in its latest edition.

The prediction has incurred the wrath of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who on Monday described the forecast of the London-based magazine as failing to meet the attributes of objectivity, balance and fairness.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/opposition-will-collapse-buhari-will-win-presidency-economist

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised that if elected, he will bring to bear his diverse experiences to tackle unemployment, insecurity and other challenges facing the nation.

Atiku, who stated this while addressing a mammoth crowd that attended the inauguration of his North-West zonal campaign rally in Sokoto on Monday, said he was not a failed farmer.

He also said, “Our Nigeria of today needs a leader that will involve all in government, not some individuals who only care for their personal interests and not the country.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/goodluck-jonathan-vote-pdp-so-that-we-can-all-have-food-to-eat

The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Peter Obi, has asked people to stop attacking Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka over his prophecies.

Obi’s reaction came following a pronouncement by Mbaka on Sunday that both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and President Muhammadu of the All Progressives Congress might not win the 2019 presidential election.

In a statement by Obi’s media aide, Val Obienyem, the former governor of Anambra State said he did not feel bad about the priest’s pronouncement.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/prophecy-stop-attacking-mbaka-pray-for-him-peter-obi

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has vowed to work against his party’s governorship candidate in the state.

Mr Amosun, a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, however, pledged to work for the president’s re-election bid.

He also said he would not leave the APC and would contest the Ogun central senatorial election on the platform of the party next year.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/i-will-work-against-apc-governorship-candidate-amosun-vows

A former member of the federal House of Representatives, Eseme Eyiboh, has faulted Governor Udom Emmanuel’s surprise visit to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly a few days ago amidst a festering crisis in the assembly.

Mr Emmanuel, accompanied by security officials and some youth, drove into the assembly on November 27 while five All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, sacked from the assembly, were holding their ‘sitting”.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/akwa-ibom-governor-breached-legislative-autonomy-eyiboh

Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title ambitions suffered a setback on Sunday as they drew 1-1 away at Girona, only averting a first league defeat since September thanks to a late own goal by Jonas Ramalho.

Atletico’s Saul Niguez struck the underside of the bar as the visitors enjoyed the better first-half chances but they fell behind on the stroke of halftime when top scorer Cristhian Stuani converted a penalty.

The spot kick was awarded with the help of the video assistant referee after Stuani himself had been tripped by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atletico-madrid-salvage-draw-at-girona-with-late-own-goal

A leading member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, legal luminary and oil industry mogul, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has dumped the the party.

Lulu-Briggs, a former chieftain of the APC, who contested the last APC governorship primary, announced his decision to pursue his governorship ambition on another party’s platform in a statement titled: ‘Taking Leave of a Family,’ Sunday morning.

In his defection letter from the APC, the politician noted that though it was a hard decision for him, he was left with no other choice but to move to another party to pursue is dream of creating a new Rivers State.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/dumo-lulu-briggs-dumps-apc

The Osun State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has carpeted the newly sworn in governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, describing him as an interim governor whose legitimacy is questionable in the eyes of the public.

The chairman of the party, Soji Adagunodo, stated this, on Tuesday, in Osogbo, the state capital, in a release he issued on the occasion of the swearing in ceremony of Oyetola which took place.

Oyetola took over the baton of leadership from Rauf Aregbesola who had been in the saddle since eight years ago with effect from November 27, 2010.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/youre-an-interim-governor-lacking-legitimacy-pdp-tells-gboyega-oyetola

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the effort by the c to justify President Muhammadu Buhari’s neglect of fighting troops, leading to the killing of over 100 soldiers by insurgents, is a slap on the sensibility of Nigerians.

The PDP added that the APC, as a party, has demonstrated that it attaches no value to the lives of soldiers or other Nigerians, but “more interested in seeing funeral ceremonies and floating over the graves of its victims”.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-replies-apc-over-alleged-diversion-of-military-funds

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday said the late Chief Tony Anenih was one of the few Nigerian politicians who played politics of ideologies and commitment.

He added that despite a few unpleasant things done to him as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he served the party wholeheartedly till his last day.

The former president made this known in Abuja at a church service as part of the activities lined up for his (Anenih) final journey home.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/jonathan-anenih-played-politics-of-ideology-commitment

President Muhammadu Buhari has publicly disagreed with the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress over the right of aggrieved members to seek redress in court.

In a statement by Femi Adesina, the president’s media adviser, President Buhari stressed that if anyone is displeased with the way and manner anything has been done, and feels deprived of his/her rights, then such a person is at liberty to approach the courts for redress.

It was the president’s first public reaction to the discontent within the party over the conduct of primaries, in the selection of candidates for elective offices.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/buhari-rebukes-oshiomholes-nwc

The British Government has said it remains neutral on presidential candidates President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, ahead of the 2019 elections.

This comes as international agencies in collaboration with local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the full inclusion of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) into the electoral system in 2019.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/britain-we-choose-to-be-neutral-on-muhammadu-buhari-atiku-abubakar

Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, his wife and children have reportedly recovered three properties worth about N500m from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The properties include four terrace houses located at 44 Mamman Kotangora Crescent in the highbrow Katamkpe Extension area of Abuja; a parcel of land in Guzape District and a duplex at Olori Mojisola Onikoyi Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/obanikoro-recover-n500m-houses-land-from-efcc

Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, has accused ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of being the major problem of Nigeria.

In an interview, the monarch said the former president was “running after” Lagos when in government, instead of focusing on the country’s investments.

“The major problem of Nigeria today is former President Olusegun Obasanjo. When he was in government, he was running after Lagos while someone was cornering all the blue-chip companies that belong to the country,” he said.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/oba-akiolu-olusegun-obasanjo-is-the-major-problem-of-nigeria

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the U. S. and other international communities to assist Nigeria in ensuring that the 2019 general elections is free, fair, credible and peaceful.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group made the call during a peaceful rally to the U.S. Embassy on Friday in Abuja.

The coalition are Concerned Nigerians, Ourmumudondo Movement and the Coalition for the Defence of Democracy in Nigerian Democracy.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/2019-csos-urge-u-s-to-assist-nigeria-on-elections

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday reassured Nigerians that the forthcoming general elections in 2019 will be free and fair.

Buhari gave the assurance in Jos at the graduation ceremony of Senior Executive Course 40, 2018 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, KURU.

He said: “We as a government also wish to reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the elections are free, fair and credible as part of measures to deepen our democracy.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/buhari-restates-commitment-for-free-fair-2019-elections

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and his faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have declared that they will not abide by the recent directive of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC), mandating all aggrieved members of the party to withdraw all court cases to allow the newly constituted national reconciliation committee to work towards peaceful resolution of all matters that arose from the party primaries.

Okorocha stated that Oshiomhole was once a beneficiary of a court action as he recovered his stolen governorship mandate through the court.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/okorocha-dares-oshiomhole-maintains-court-action

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Delta State, on Tuesday, described the two-day visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the state to inaugurate projects as a waste of public funds.

Chief Obasanjo who was in the state on the invitation of the People Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, commissioned the 9.4km dualised Old Lagos-Asaba Road, the 5.27km dualised Owa-Ekei/Owa-Alero Road and the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/apc-olusegun-obasanjos-visit-to-delta-waste-of-public-funds

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said Lagos State will get two governors in one with him and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, in the saddle.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Lagos on whether he can have a good working relationship with Hamzat who is also a politician and has governorship ambition, Sanwo-Olu said his friendship with Hamzat had come a long way and he would probably had become his Chief of Staff if he (Hamzat) had become the APC governorship candidate four years ago.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/jide-sanwo-olu-lagos-will-get-two-governors-in-one

The Lagos State All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his running mate, Femi Hamzat, on Tuesday pledged to run a transparent budgetary system if elected into office in next year’s polls.

The duo spoke at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos.

“The reality there is: what is there to hide?” Hamzat, a former commissioner for works in the state, asked.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/jide-sanwo-olu-we-will-open-lagos-government-books

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has declared the purported emergence of Mr. Nse Ntuen, as a new Speaker of the Assembly as illegal and urged the people of the state to ignore him.

Following the declaration of the seat of five members of the Assembly vacant on Monday, a cross section of members were said to have elected Ntuen representing Essien Udim state constituency as the new Speaker on the same day.

But yesterday, the Chairman, House Committee on Information of the Assembly, Mr. Imeh Okon, accused Ntuen and two other ousted members from the Assembly of breaking into the chambers without the mace and announcing him (Ntuen) as the new Speaker.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/emergence-of-new-speaker-illegal-says-akwa-ibom-assembly

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), caused quite a stir when he made an appearance at the book launch of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan commemorated his 61st birthday on Tuesday with the launch of his book, ‘My Transition Hours’. The event took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The arrival of Oshiomhole, who came late to the event, disrupted the address of Salisu Belgore, a former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/adams-oshiomhole-causes-stir-at-goodluck-jonathans-book-launch

The Director General of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has again insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari will not allow anything to go wrong with the credibility of the forthcoming 2019 general election.

This is coming as the president yesterday pledged to provide more funding for the military in order to enhance its capacity and deepen professionalism.

But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have condemned what it described as the attempts by President Buhari to politicise and compromise the military by dragging in service chiefs to attend and participate in his re-election campaign rally.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/buhari-will-ensure-free-fair-poll-amaechi-assures-un-envoy

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday sacked four more lawmakers who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The speaker, Onofiok Luke, announced their sack during plenary, according to a statement from the spokesperson of the speaker, Kufre Okon.

The affected lawmakers are Nse Ntuen, who represented Essien Udim State Constituency; Otobong Ndem, Mkpat Enin State Constituency; Victor Udofia, Ikono State Constituency; Gabriel Toby, Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/akwa-ibom-assembly-sacks-four-more-lawmakers-who-defected-from-pdp-to-apc

As the 2019 election campaigns kicked off on Sunday, Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that only plans and not promises could get Nigeria working again.

Atiku, who punched holes in the ‘Next Level’ campaign initiated by Buhari, pointed out that without a concrete policy, the ‘Next Level’ promises were nothing more than propaganda.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/2019-atiku-abubakar-mocks-muhammadu-buharis-next-level-campaign

Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has been confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, made the confirmation.

Tambuwal’s name was reportedly missing from the list released by INEC for the 2019 governorship election.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/inec-confirms-tambuwal-as-pdp-governorship-candidate-in-sokoto

The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, has replaced Adeleke Shittu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of next year’s elections in the state.

It was learnt that Shittu whose name was pasted alongside other governorship candidates of 38 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “voluntarily withdrew” from the race for Kashamu.

Shittu had emerged the governorship candidate of PDP from the primary conducted by Bayo Dayo-faction in the State.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/buruji-kashamu-replaces-adeleke-shittu-as-ogun-pdp-governorship-candidate