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Trump, Harris to clash in high-stakes presidential debate

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Trump, Harris to clash in high-stakes presidential debate

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are poised to face off in a potentially game-changing televised debate Tuesday, less than two months ahead of the knife-edge US presidential election.

The stakes could hardly be higher for the Democratic vice president and Republican former president, with tens of millions of American voters expected to tune in at 9:00 pm Eastern Time (0100 GMT Wednesday) to watch their first and possibly only debate.

A single zinger or gaffe could tip the balance of one of the most dramatic White House races in US history, with the two rivals neck-and-neck in the polls ahead of the November 5 vote.

For Harris, 59, it will be a critical chance to win over voters who still know little about her, as her honeymoon starts to fade after suddenly replacing President Joe Biden in July.

Trump, 78, will meanwhile try to box in Harris on issues like the economy and immigration, but may also unleash more of the racist and sexist insults that he’s directed her way during the campaign.

Harris, who enjoys a significant advantage among women according to the polls, is expected to press Trump on reproductive rights after he made a number of seemingly contradictory comments recently on abortion access.

The two candidates will be meeting in person for the first time at the ABC News-hosted debate in Philadelphia.

“This debate may go down in the history books. Break out the popcorn,” said Andrew Koneschusky, a former press secretary for Senate leader Chuck Schumer.

The debate is scheduled to last 90 minutes and will be held without an audience.

Harris did a walkthrough of the venue, the National Constitution Center, Tuesday afternoon that lasted about half an hour.

Tim Smith, 39, a Harris supporter, stood outside holding a sign similar to those used by the Trump campaign but bearing the word “Loser.”

Smith said he was hoping “we’ll get to hear a little bit of the policies they want to institute and not so much the name calling or the attacks.”

– ‘No floor’ –

Harris, America’s first female, Black and South Asian vice president, spent five days holed up in a hotel doing intense practice sessions ahead of the debate.

One of her aides even reportedly dressed up in a Trump-style boxy suit and long tie to imitate her opponent.

Trump’s team said he has taken a more relaxed approach ahead of his seventh presidential debate, choosing to arrive in Philadelphia just hours before and keeping preparations limited.

The debate may lack the full-scale shouting matches of previous years, as the two candidates’ microphones will be muted when they are not speaking, at the Trump team’s request.

But it will still be a potential turning point — as well as a contrast in styles.

In one corner is a former prosecutor who has in the past delivered ice-cold put-downs to debate rivals including Biden himself and Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence.

“There’s no floor for him in terms of how low he will go,” Harris said in a radio interview. “He is probably going to speak a lot of untruths.”

– ‘Like a boxer’ –

In the other corner is Trump, the most brutal knife-fighter in US politics, who has been convicted of falsifying business records to cover up an affair with an adult film star, found liable for sexual abuse, and is accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election.

“You can’t prepare for President Trump,” his spokesman Jason Miller said. “Imagine like a boxer trying to prepare for Floyd Mayweather, or Muhammad Ali.”

Harris in some ways has more to prove.

Her campaign suffered a setback at the weekend when a major New York Times/Siena poll showed Trump ahead by 48 to 47 percent and the candidates effectively tied in the half a dozen battleground states.

She will be under pressure to spell out her so-far vague policy manifesto to voters, who according to the Times poll said they need to know more about her.

Former reality TV star Trump is by far the more experienced presidential debater, with six under his belt, but swing voters may be put off if he insults the candidate aiming to become America’s first woman president.

Trump is still reveling in the fact that his last debate opponent, 81-year-old Biden, performed so catastrophically that he was forced to withdraw from the race.

AFP

Osuntokun faults Abure for making a U-turn on Obi

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Osuntokun faults Abure for making a U-turn on Obi

The Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, on Tuesday, berated the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, following the decision to withdraw the automatic tickets of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.

Abure had announced after Monday’s emergency meeting of the National Executive Council that the NEC had reviewed and rescinded the automatic tickets to create a healthy political contest for all qualified aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.

The national chairman also disclosed that the rule also applies to the current members of the National Assembly.

Reacting to the development when he was featured as a guest on Arise Television on Tuesday, Osuntokun said Abure’s decision to make a U-turn a few weeks after his pronouncement showed he had an ulterior motive.

The LP campaign DG also raised concerns that the party cannot afford to have a southern national chairman when the presidential flag candidate is also from the South.

According to him, they need to strike a balance to avoid giving Nigerians the notion that it is a regional arrangement.

He said, “It is not for him (Abure) to decide who will be the candidate or not. This is a fundamental misunderstanding coming from someone prone to a delusion of grandeur. How can a party chairman announce such a thing? It means he has already decided who gets the presidential ticket. It defies logic.

“The Labour Party, on account of the strength and capacity displayed (at the last election), had assured many that Obi and Otti would retain their tickets. But some vested interests, like the ruling party, for instance, will be interested in the subversion of the party. The best way to do that is to go through the national chairman. We saw the one with the (Lamidi) Apapa’s own. They are at it again.

“The truth is there is no way you can hold a convention without the consent of INEC. If you stage a convention in which the principal stakeholders stay away and INEC is still not in a position to give the approved authority, it is clear. Look, this tendency of sit-tight syndrome is what is principally wrong with Africa.

“Potentially, Obi is likely to be the candidate of the party in the next election. He is from the South East. So by the logic of Nigeria’s power politics, the chairman of the party should not come from the South. That is logical. I don’t know how this plays in his (Abure) mind. These are the kind of things that should be in his consideration.”

Obi’s campaign spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, told our correspondent in a phone chat that their camp won’t speak on the matter.

“We don’t want to speak or say anything concerning the Labour Party for now. We are not ready to join issues with anybody on the matter,” he said.

Fallen truck causes gridlock on Abuja airport road

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Fallen truck causes gridlock on Abuja airport road

A collapsed container truck between the FHA Bridge and the ShopRite Pedestrian Bridge along the Lugbe-Airport Road in Abuja has caused a major traffic gridlock on the route.

Our correspondent gathered that the truck, which collapsed on the Expressway at about 9 am on Tuesday, forced outbound vehicles headed towards the airport to divert to the opposite lane, causing even more congestion on the Expressway.

The FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Muta’a Chorrie, confirming the incident to our correspondent, said officers of the FRSC were on hand trying to remove the container and clear the gridlock, while stating that it was a fallen container and not a tanker, as some reports had claimed.

“It was just a container that fell on the road. We are making efforts to remove the container and control the traffic. So it’s a container that fell on Airport Road today, not a tanker. I have not received the full details yet. When I get them, I’ll get back to you,” he said.

Giving further updates, the Commander said the gridlock took between two to three hours to clear, stating that the collapsed truck was carrying a 40-foot trailer that had fallen and blocked three-quarters of the road, adding that no casualties had been recorded.

“It was a 40-foot trailer that fell, and we struggled to clear the road for about two to three hours because it was so heavy. The road is clear now, but it was very difficult.”

“There were no casualties. The tractor fell with the 40-foot container on it, which blocked almost three-quarters of the main lane, causing the hold-up. People started driving erratically, making it difficult for the traffic to return to normal, but we have managed to resolve that now,” he said.

INEC okays mock accreditation, assures residents of credible election

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INEC okays mock accreditation, assures residents of credible election

The Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, on Tuesday, expressed satisfaction over the mock accreditation in Benin, Edo State, confirming INEC’s readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state.

He gave the assurance when he paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the three local government areas where the mock accreditation took place.

The areas visited by the INEC chairman included Egor, Ikpoba Okha and Oredo Local Government Areas of the state.

Addressing journalists after the exercise in Benin, Mahmood said from his assessment, the commission is fully ready for the election, noting that the electorate has nothing to worry about.

He said, “This is our readiness assessment visit to Edo State and the purpose is to reach some three local government areas to assess our readiness in terms of preparations and materials received so far as well as how we are organizing the election in the next 11 days. We have also visited two centres to observe the Mock Accreditation exercise.

“We intended to test run the integrity of our systems ahead of the election and those for voter registration as well as the upload of the results to the IREV portal.

“So, we have observed and so far so good, in terms of readiness of our local government offices for the election and also the technology that we are deploying for the election, everything is in perfect condition”.

Mahmood stated that the commission under his watch has done its best, noting that it now behoves the electorate to come out en mass to vote for the candidate of their choice.

“INEC is not a political party, therefore, we don’t have a candidate in this election. The responsibility for choosing the governor of Edo State is entirely in the hands of Edo voters and our assurance to all the registered voters in the state is to troop out to vote for the party of their choice and the candidate of their choice.

“The commission will always protect the integrity of the person and uphold the choice made by the electorate”, Mahmood said.

He also appealed to stakeholders to conduct themselves to contribute to the success of the election.

He added, “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to other stakeholders including the security agencies, the political parties, the candidates, the observers and the media to contribute to the successful conduct of the poll.

“We have enough backup. For instance, all the machines used for the mock in 12 polling units across three senatorial districts in Edo state will not be used for the election.

“This is an off-cycle election, we have enough systems to go round. So, I want to assure you that the integrity of the process is protected.”

Police arrest Edo LG boss over alleged political violence

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Police arrest Edo LG boss over alleged political violence

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, on Tuesday, confirmed the arrest of the Esan West Local Government Council Chairman, Collins Aigbogun.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress in Edo had petitioned the Inspector General of Police over political violence that erupted in the Illeh community, Esan West Local Area, as the APC fingered the Council boss to be responded to for the alleged violence.

Addressing journalists at the police headquarters in Benin, CP Edwin-Iwo said that the council boss was brought to the Criminal Investigation Department of the command in Benin by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area upon police invitation.

He said that Collin Aigbogun, upon arriving at the CID office, was discovered to have been wanted by the police earlier on other alleged criminal charges.

He said, “Yes, he was invited. He reported himself to the police, and we later discovered that he had other criminal charges against him.

“What happened was that he brutalised someone in the course of altercations between himself and other party members.

“He was invited, and the DPO in the area brought him to the State CID, where it was discovered that he had other charges against him.

“Our men from FID came and said that the man had earlier been wanted, and there was now a need for them to take him along so that they could investigate his matter.

“That was how he was moved to Abuja. The whole thing is being investigated and I hope that at the end of the day, if there is anything against him, he will be brought back to Benin”, he disclosed

Speaking on the Command’s readiness for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, the CP warned non-state actors to stay away from the poll, saying they have no business with the election.

He revealed that the police have commenced illegal arms mopping across the 18 local government council areas in the state in order to have a hitch-free election.

He added, “We are mopping up harms across the local government council areas in the state ahead of the election. We request the public to inform us where we can mop up illegal arms.

“We are going to create an environment where we will have a free and fair election and enable the environment so that anybody can walk freely without any molestations or intimidations.

“I want to re-emphasise, as INEC has done earlier, that nonstate actors are not supposed to carry arms and are not part of the election at all.

“So, all that we are doing now before the election is to make sure that we clear all illegal arms as much as we can. The operation is ongoing and I have operatives virtually in all the local government areas now,” he stated.

Abure lied, didn’t remit ‘N1,000 challenge’ donations

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Abure lied, didn’t remit ‘N1,000 challenge’ donations

The Obi-Datti fundraising team has refuted Monday’s claim by the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, that only Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo, were responsible for managing the campaign funds of LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the 2023 election.

Abure had told journalists in Abuja after a meeting of the National Executive Council on Monday that there was no iota of truth in the allegation that he embezzled the party’s campaign donations.

The embattled national chairman emphasised that there was no way he could have accessed any fund since he was not involved directly in the management of the presidential flag candidate.

He said, “ The party and I have been accused of being responsible for Peter Obi’s failure in the 2023 general election. They stated that the campaign, election donations and funds for the payment of agents were mismanaged by the party hence Peter Obi failed in the election.

“The election funding was done by Obi himself. As per the donations, the party was not involved. The signatories to these accounts were Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo. They were equally responsible for the payment of Polling Unit Agents.

“Consequently, it is mischievous for any person to accuse me and the party of mismanagement of these funds. At no time did the Party or its officials engage in any financial transactions as it relates to the presidential campaign.”

Reacting in a viral video posted on her official YouTube account on Tuesday, Yesufu, who doubled as the chairman of the campaign fundraising team, described Abure as a liar.

The activist also challenged the national chairman to tell Nigerians what he did with the proceeds of the ‘Labour Party N1,000 Challenge’ campaign donations he has been raising since 2022.

He said, “That statement Abure made was a big fat lie. He thinks it was like those days when they used to do their Labour unionism when nobody had internet or keep records; those days they got away with everything. When it comes to certain things, I am a very detailed and process-driven person.

“There were times when the fundraising team was frustrated with me because of my insistence on due process. Before Mr Obi came out with his campaign account, the Labour Party had theirs. I have with me here a ‘Labour Party N1,000 Challenge’ post that was tweeted on 24/11/22. It said ‘Take ownership of the LP campaign by donating a minimum of N1,000 to Labour Party Zenith Account 1225832294.

“When that account was opened by Abure, I was very angry. I remember some people harmlessly saying it was no big deal since it was for the same Labour Party campaign. But I insisted that it is not the same thing because we don’t have access to any money that went into the LP account and therefore can’t use it to facilitate the electioneering campaign.

“So for Julius Abure to come out in 2024 to blatantly lie that they were not involved in any campaign, saying it was only Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua (is unbelievable). By the way, there are three signatories, not two as he said. Up till now, the LP has not accounted for the money the public donated to them neither have they accounted for the money used to procure forms.”

The allegation and counter-allegation come six months after Yesufu announced that the fundraising team received donations totalling N596m from party supporters, Obidient movements and well-meaning Nigerians across the globe.

She added that Obi also spent N744,500,000 on litigation following his loss in the 2023 presidential election.

Edo raises the alarm over arrest of PDP leaders

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Edo raises the alarm over arrest of PDP leaders

The Edo State Government on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the arrest of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, urging the security agencies to halt the arrest.

The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, stated this in a statement on Tuesday.

Nehikhare said the arrest was the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress.

Nehikhare claimed that over 10 PDP leaders, including the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Collins Aigbogun, were being kept in dungeons on the orders of the APC.

He called on security agencies to halt the arrest of the PDP leaders and supporters in the state ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.

He noted that no amount of intimidation would make the APC win the governorship election.

He said, “Let the APC explain to us where our members and leaders are. Why have they not been charged in court since their arrest? Instead, the APC has been boasting of their plans to attack, intimidate, and harass PDP members and supporters.” Nehikhare demanded.

However, the Media Director, Edo APC Campaign Council, Kazeem Afegbua, exonerated the PDP, noting that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki had earlier revealed his party’s readiness to burn down Nigeria.

Afegbua said, “As usual and based on our earlier promise to avail the public of the nefarious preparations of the Governor Obaseki-led PDP’s readiness to “burn” Nigeria, here is the latest plan by the Edo State Governor following a meeting held yesterday, Sunday, 8 September 2024 at the Government House.

“Take note that those who were complicit in the killing of Inspector Akor Onu were also in attendance and yet to surrender themselves to the Nigeria Police. We understand that one Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanni Fodio, who is the Head of the State Criminal Investigation Department, is the one shielding these persons, boasting that nobody would touch them.

“ACP Sanni Fodio is working in cahoot with the CSO to Governor Obaseki to orchestrate some of these frustrations. For example, seven of our members and three of PDP members were arrested by Commander 4th Brigade, last week at Inikorogha and handed over to the Police.”

He added, “Before you say Jack Robbinson, those PDP members were freed immediately by the ACP in charge of State CID while APC members were left till Sunday before our legal team intervened.

“The latest plan by Governor Obaseki is to shut down Edo State starting from 15th September, through mass protest, and that other PDP-controlled states would join the protest, with a view to inviting the military to take over the reins of power at the Federal level.

He also informed the meeting that other PDP-controlled states would postpone the resumption dates of schools to orchestrate a nationwide protest that would lead to military take-over.

“He reportedly told them that, he would rather disrupt the country for change of government than to lose Edo state to the opposition APC. He said that was why he decided to postpone the school resumption date and that other PDP-controlled states would follow suit starting this week.”

Police arraign four men over N1.98m theft

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Police arraign four men over N1.98m theft

The Ekiti State Police Command has arraigned four individuals before an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, over the alleged theft of belongings worth N1.98 million.

The defendants—Umar Lawal, 18; Useni Usman, 25; Abbar Senkikami, 25; and Nuru Useni, 25—were also charged with damaging property worth N1.5 million.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, informed the court on Tuesday that “the suspects, on September 5 and 7 at about 02:30 a.m. at No. 3, Irona Street, in Ado Ekiti, conspired with one another and broke into the residence of Pastor Obebe Michael.

“On the same dates, times, and place, the defendants stole one electrical wire and distribution board worth N500,000, a mattress worth N80,000, a gas cooker with cylinder valued at N450,000, a Hiace fridge valued at N900,000, and an iron bar valued at N50,000, totalling N1,980,000—property of Pastor Obebe Michael.”

The prosecutor added that the defendants maliciously damaged the roof ceiling, glass, net, and distribution box with a house wire ring, valued at N1,500,000—property of Pastor Michael.

He said that “the offence committed by the defendants is punishable under sections 421, 322, 302, 354, and 345 of the Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2021.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel for the defendants, Opeyemi Esan, urged the court to grant bail, promising that his clients would not abscond and would provide credible sureties.

The Chief Magistrate, Adebayo Adeosun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety each and adjourned the case until October 15 for a hearing.

Provide succour to Maiduguri flood victims, Abbas tells FG

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Provide succour to Maiduguri flood victims, Abbas tells FG

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to urgently provide relief materials to Maiduguri residents affected by the flood which swept across the Borno State capital on Monday.

Flood reportedly took over most parts of Maiduguri metropolis following a downpour that led to the collapse of the Alao Dam, affecting the palace of the Shehu of Borno and displacing thousands of residents.

In a statement issued Tuesday by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, Abbas called for collective intervention to assist victims of the natural disaster.

“I am disturbed by the news of the ravaging flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. This is a situation that calls for concern to every well-meaning Nigerian.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people and government of Borno State at this trying moment. My heart goes out to the people of Maiduguri.

“I call on all government agencies responsible for providing quick intervention in times of such emergencies to swing into action for the sake of the affected people”, the statement read in part.

Abbas who represents Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State further called on residents of other cities in the country where weather forecasts by relevant authorities indicated there would be floods in the coming days and weeks to take needed caution to protect their lives and properties.

Dirisu Yakubu

Dirisu, has over 12 years experience covering political parties, National Assembly, sports, transportation, etc, and currently works with The According

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Kingibe knocks Abure, backs Otti’s 29-man reconciliation panel

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Kingibe knocks Abure, backs Otti’s 29-man reconciliation panel

The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory district, Ireti Kingibe, on Tuesday, endorsed the 29-member caretaker committee established by the national leader of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, Abia Governor Alex Otti, and party stakeholders last week to oversee an expansive national convention.

Kingibe gave her endorsement at the launch of a four-day free medical outreach, which she facilitated for her constituents in Abuja.

The free medical outreach, organised in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, attracted many people seeking eye tests, free treatment, and referrals for suspected cataract cases.

The senator, represented by her senior legislative aide, Dr Chris Omofoma, told The Punch that every LP member knows the tenure of the National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his National Working Committee ended as far back as June 2023.

While noting that Abure and his loyalists have yet to accept this reality, Kingibe explained that Otti and Obi, whom Abure is now opposing, had previously requested an extension of his tenure by an extra year to help recover from the 2023 presidential election loss.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, his National Secretary, Umar Farouk, and the National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, were notably absent from the enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, had called the meeting to resolve the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
However, the Abure-led NWC has opposed the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee, describing it as null and void.

She said, “There is really no crisis in Labour. Abure’s NWC refuses to admit that their tenure has ended. Even INEC has clearly stated that Abure’s tenure ended in June 2023.

However, Alex Otti and Peter Obi extended it by one year so the party could recover from the (2023) election losses before conducting the national convention. So, their tenure was extended to June 8, 2024, which has now lapsed.

“So, whatever Alex Otti, Obi, and other party stakeholders are doing is in line with the constitution and INEC guidelines. It is now up to Abure to accept the reality that his tenure is over, and it is time to do what is necessary.

“I fully support the Nenadi Usman-led committee. That is the way forward. Anything else from the Abure-led NWC is illegal.”

Continuing, the FCT senator described Tuesday’s medical outreach as a great success.

According to her, the mission was to provide essential medical services to 5,000 members of her constituency in the FCT.

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