The Nation's Nigerian News Headlines: Get Updated

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Last week, loyalists of Governor Gbenga Daniel and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were engaged in what observers have described as show of strength.

It was last Tuesday, the day set aside to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. That day, however, Ilaro and Abeokuta, both Ogun State communities, played host to supporters of the two parallel poles of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) battling for the political soul of the state ahead of the April polls. Uppermost in their minds was how to gain grounds in the Gateway State.

As early as 9am, the Ilaro venue of the rally organised by the Elders of the Ogun West Senatorial District for the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, Gen. Tunji Olurin, was filled with a crowd of party supporters.

Party supporters from the two other senatorial districts – Ogun Central and Ogun East – also trooped to the multi-purpose hall, Ilaro to give their solidarity support. The crowd sang and danced in the scorching sun.

Source: A tale of two rallies in Ogun

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The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday alleged a plot by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use a manual voter register.

The party said the plan would make it possible for those who have either engaged in multiple registration or purchased voter cards to rig the polls.

Source: ACN alleges plot by INEC to use manual register

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For alleged poor implementation of last year's budget, Finance Minister Olusegun Aganga may have run into trouble with the National Assembly, it was learnt yesterday.

The budget was 30 per cent implemented, according to the lawmakers' investigation. The implication is that the core objectives of the budget were unrealised.

Source: Aganga in trouble over poor budget execution

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The House of Representatives has explained the rationale behind its decision to probe the allegations levelled by President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Isa Salami against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

It said the allegations had eroded the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, which is critical to the survival of the country and democracy.

Source: Why we are probing Katsina-Alu, Salami feud, by Reps

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Is the judiciary corrupt?

Yes, says the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which yesterday described the feud between the judiciary's leading lights as a "tip of the iceberg" of the problems of the institution.

According to NBA, the face-off between the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Isa Salami is a reflection of the crisis in the judiciary.

Source: Judiciary is corrupt, says NBA

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TEN civil society groups have demanded the immediate resignation of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) for allegedly withdrawing more 25 cases in court under 10 months in office.

They made the demand in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

The organisations are  Zero-corruption Coalition ;Civil society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC) ; West African Civil Society Forum ;Centre for Democracy and Development;  Women in Nigeria ;Publish What You Pay ;Transparency in Nigeria; Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) ;Centre for the Development of Civil Society (CDCS);    National Procurement Watch Platform (NPWP). They said: "In February 2010, the Nigerian Bar Association through its President, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, raised the alarm over attempts by the Federal Government to sweep the Halliburton scam under the carpet.

Source: 10 civil society groups demand resignation of Minister

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A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered fresh service of charges on four men and a company accused of allegedly looting the assets of the defunct Daily Times of Nigeria Plc.

The accused are Fidelis Anosike, his brother, Noel, their associates; Nicholas Okoye and Gogo Kurubo and their company, Folio Communications Limited.

Source: Court orders service  of charges on accused over Daily Times assets

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Despite meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the Northern elders led by former Finance Minister Mallam Adamu Ciroma have not reached a compromise with him, it was learnt yesterday.

They are, however, demanding a new power sharing agreement as a precondition for any further talks with Jonathan.

Sources at the meeting held in Abuja last Friday, said the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) is insisting on the return of the presidency to the region in 2015.

Source: Ciroma's group lists conditions to back Jonathan

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some Federal Government officials were yesterday told to apply the brakes in their desperation to get the Court of Appeal judgments on the Ekiti and Osun governorship election petitions reversed.

It is a wild goose chase which can never work because the verdicts are final, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said yesterday.

Source: ACN to PDP, Fed Govt: judgments on Ekiti, Osun governorship petitions final

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Political strategists are not just working on the figures of registered voters. As important as that is, it is only one side of the equation. The other side is actual turnout at the poll. In 1999, 57.9 million voters were on the roll nationally and 30.2 million turned out for the presidential election. In 2003, 60 million Nigerians turned out for registration and 42 million voted in the presidential poll. Four years later, 61 million were on the roll and 35.4 million participated on election day.

The make-up of the figures in quite interesting. In Bayelsa where the least number of voters have been registered, 773,850 names were on the roll in 1999. Of the figure, 610,032 actually voted. In Niger State, 1.57 million were registered and 871,130 voted. Ebonyi, in 1999, recorded 902,327 registered voters, with 345,921 turning out on poll day.

Source: How do the states vote?