THE House of Representative and House of Assembly primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ogun State, was yesterday marred by violence as some party supporters whose candidate lost out in the consensus arrangement vandalized the party secretariat and held leaders of the party hostage for several hours.

THE cycle of violence in Plateau State continued yesterday as, Wareng, a hamlet in Riyom Local Government Area was attacked leaving 18 people, mostly children, dead.

Mr. Mike Omeri is the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation. In this interview with Vanguard, he articulates the motif of the Jonathan campaign, weaves the style adopted in marketing his product even as he affirms Presaident Jonathan as an already sold product to Nigerians. Excerpts:

Under normal circumstances, an incumbent office holder has a better advantage to be re-elected over a fresh contender angling for the same post. The reasons are obvious. The incumbent often times is better known and gets more media exposure. He is also in a better position to raise more money for electoral campaigns. And more importantly, he has executed projects to campaign with.

A media based Non Governmental organisation, the Joint Action Committee on ICT awareness and Development, JACITAD, at the weekend set a seven point agenda which it said would aid policy makers in the industry arrive at a better ICT year in 2011.

AHEAD today’s primaries of the Action Congress of the Nigeria, ACN, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, met with aspirants of the party, warning that the party will deal “ruthlessly” with any aspirant involved in thuggery.

THE Delta State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, led by factional Chairman of the party, Dr. Mike Emuh has congratulated, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on his re-run election victory. It has also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for conducting a free and fair election saying it was an eloquent testimony that 2011 elections would be highly successful.

Over 300 huts have been razed down and 3,000 persons rendered homeless as fire guts a fishing settlement in Afa Iso Mbiet in Day Spring II Island in the Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The Immigration Service has vowed to shut out foreigners from registering in preparation for this year’s general elections.
Public Relations Officer of the service, Joachim Olumba, who disclosed this to Vanguard, said the Comptroller-General of the service had already ordered officers in charge of border units and control posts all over the country to maintain 24 hours surveillance and presence at all stations.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday denied any link with a publication making the round that the Chairperson, Mrs Farida Waziri, had been co-opted into President Goodluck Jonathan’s media team to help witch-hunt opposition.