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Independence national electoral commission on Sunday extended to March 22 the deadline for the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVCs), urging registered voters to pick up their cards.

“The collection will continue until March 22, superseding the earlier deadline of March 08,” Kayode Idowu, a spokesman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said in a statement.

“The INEC hereby calls on registered persons that are yet to collect their PVCs to use this last opportunity in doing so, in order to participate in the forthcoming general elections,” Idowu added.

Initially billed to end by Feb. 8, the commission extended PVC collection by four weeks after it shifted the election from Feb. 14 to March 28 citing security reasons.

At least 79 percent of the registered voters have collected their cards as at Feb. 27, according to INEC official figures.

On March 28, Nigeria is slated to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.

Although 14 candidates will contest presidency, the poll is largely seen as a race between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler running on the APC’s ticket.

- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/03/08/again-inec-extends-voter-card-distribution-deadline/#sthash.QbIyalxO.dpuf

A community leader in Chibok, Borno State, on Sunday lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for sending the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, to reassure them of safe return of the abducted students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

Mr. Wakil last week held a meeting with members of the community in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on the orders of President Jonathan.

A spokesperson of the community, Hauwa Chibok, made the commendation in a statement in Maiduguri.

“I, on behalf of Chibok women, write to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for sending one of his ministers, Mohammed Wakil, to sympathise with us and reassure us over our missing daughters.

“Wakil briefed us on the security efforts being made to rescue the girls and we appreciate it.

“We are from Chibok, not Damboa, and the minister met us at about 10 p.m. on Thursday morning in Maiduguri.

“He was with us for two hours. We prayed together for our daughters and we prayed for the military.

“On behalf of our people, we convey our appreciation for the visit.

“We prayed God to bless the efforts of our military,” she said.
(NAN)

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has made a formal complaint against Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, who during a rally in Calabar, Cross River State last week, called on PDP supporters to “stone” anyone who came to the state asking for change.

The letter of complaint signed by Rivers State Governor and Director General of APCPCO, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, will on Monday, 9 March be dispatched to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police (IG) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), among others.

According to Governor Amaechi, “Change, as the entire country must know by now, is the slogan of the APC – the rallying cry of a political party that wishes to bring hope of greater and better things to come for Nigeria and Nigerians.

By her statement, Mrs. Jonathan was clearly calling on PDP supporters in Calabar to attack supporters and campaigners of the APC in the state.”

The APCPCO likened some of Mrs. Jonathan’s inciting statements and conduct during this political campaign season, to those of Mrs Simone Gbagbo, wife of the former president of Cote D’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, prior to that country’s 2010 election.

The ICC indicted Mrs. Gbagbo for her part in planning to perpetrate brutal attacks – including murder, rape, and sexual violence, on her husband’s political opponents in the wake of the 2010 election.

Mrs. Jonathan does not occupy any formal office in the Nigerian government, as the position of First Lady is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution. But Mrs.
Gbagbo’s case shows the ICC’s awareness of how someone beyond formal governmental and military hierarchies can be identified as responsible for serious international crimes.

The APCPCO pointed out that Mrs. Jonathan’s incontrovertible hate speech not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also goes completely against the Abuja Peace Accord jointly signed by the two presidential candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan – a gesture which is aimed at forestalling violence before, during and after the 2015 elections.

“PDP supporters in the state who may not know better could easily yield themselves to the First Lady’s admonition and embark on a process of wanton stoning and other attacks against APC members,” Governor Amaechi said.

The APCPCO also called on the Nigeria Police to put in place emergency measures to protect the life and property of APC members in Calabar and the entire Cross River State

Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS), according to an audio statement.

The message, which could not immediately be verified, was posted on Boko Haram’s Twitter account and appeared to be by the group’s leader.

Boko Haram began a military campaign to impose Islamic rule in northern Nigeria in 2009. The conflict has since spread to neighbouring states.

It would be the latest in a series of groups to swear allegiance to IS