No room for interim government, Abdulsalami insists

                                                  Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar

A former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee for 2015 General Elections, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has ruled out the possibility of an Interim National Government saying he believes in the assurance of the Federal Government.

He also stated that the Peace Committee, made up of security chiefs, party chieftains and religious leaders, would be meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to clear the controversies surrounding the use of card readers in the elections.

The elder statesman spoke with journalists on Thursday night in Abuja after a five-hour meeting held with the stakeholders to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) abide by the Abuja Accord on the prevention of violence and acceptance of election results.

The accord was sponsored by two world reputable men of peace: former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan and ex-Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Inmates break into Calabar prison armoury

                                             Comptroller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ekpendu

An undisclosed number of inmates on Friday gained entrance into the armoury of the Calabar Prison in Cross River State and attempted to escape after a gun duel with warders but were overpowered by combined team of security agents.

The incident, which occurred at about 11:00am, was said to have caused pandemonium as residents of neighbouring Afokang, Iman and Jebbs areas of the metropolis scampered for safety.

The Afokang end of the prison fence was broken during the incident while two inmates were said to have escaped but the Comptroller of Prisons in the state, Mr. Clement Udosen, denied the claim.

Soldiers for Polls: Jonathan may defy Appeal Court order

                                                                 President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Government may defy the Court of Appeal judgement barring the use of soldiers in the conduct of elections in the country, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday, gave an indication that President Goodluck Jonathan might order the deployment of soldiers for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

The official was responding to a question on what step the President will take on the letter written by the All Progressives Congress in which it called attention to the court order.

He said there was no issue in the matter as Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, had replied the APC on the matter.

Poll: Obey court ruling on soldiers, APC writes President

                                            National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, John Odigie Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress has written President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that the judgment barring the involvement of soldiers in elections is complied with in the forthcoming polls.

The letter dated February 16, 2015 was addressed to Jega, but was copied to President Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the National Chairmen of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party.

We’ve recaptured 11 towns, killed 300 insurgents –DHQ

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Air Force have killed over 300 fighters of the Boko Haram sect.

Olukolade said in a statement on Wednesday that the insurgents were killed during a combined operation of the Air Force and ground forces put in place to liberate 11 communities captured by the Boko Haram sect.

According to him, the communities liberated by the troops are Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul.

He said that troops had commenced a cordon and search operation in the areas involved in the latest operation.