Plaintiffs, seeking to stop Buhari, withdraw eligibility suit

                                                                       President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari

Plaintiffs in the two of the three pending suits challenging the eligibility of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to contest in the March 28, 2015, presidential election have been withdrawn.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding over the matters at the Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently struck out the matter after the plaintiffs indicated their intention to withdraw the suits on Wednesday.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is representing one of the plaintiffs, told the judge on Wednesday that his client decided to withdraw his suit to afford the incoming government time to focus on the “enormous task” of governance.

When the second case which was filed by Max Ozoaka was called, his lawyer, Dr. Chike Amobi, also adduced similar grounds for withdrawing the suit.

Fayose supporters lay siege to Ekiti Assembly

                                                                                                   Ayo Fayose

There was panic again in Ado Ekiti on Monday as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and supporters of Governor Ayodele Fayose laid siege   to the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex in order to halt the resumption of the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers.

Fayose had announced in a statewide broadcast on Sunday that the   lawmakers planned to take over the assembly to commence their impeachment proceedings against him.

He therefore urged transport unions, market women and workers to rise up and protect the mandate they gave him.

Although there were no barricades at entry points to Ado Ekiti city as done in the previous protests, many   workers who arrived in their offices at 8am returned to their homes out of fear.

Pesticide responsible for Ondo deaths, says WHO

                                                                                                      Dr. Margaret Chan

The World Health Organisation says pesticide poisoning is the probable cause of mysterious deaths of over 18 people in Ode Irele, in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Those who died suffered from blurred vision and headaches, and then lost consciousness before dying within 24 hours.

The “current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides,” WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl, said in a tweet.

“Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection,” he added.

The WHO spokesman said the current theory was that the deaths were caused by weedkiller.

My plea for forgiveness not cowardice –Fayose

                                                                   Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said his asking for forgiveness should not be taken for cowardice by his opponents, saying his tenure in office will be determined by God.

He said he took the step to seek a genuine reconciliation with the All Progressives Congress, whose 19 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly were plotting his impeachment.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised for him at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to celebrate his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace. Waiving the olive branch does not mean cowardice, it is for peace.

I didn’t spend N2tn on elections –Jonathan

                                                                                 President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said there was no truth in a report that he and the Peoples Democratic Party spent N2tn for campaigns ahead of the just-concluded general elections.

He also denied setting up a committee to conduct an audit of how the elections funds were disbursed by party members and state officials.

Jonathan made the clarification in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.