ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, released the names of 14 presidential candidates and the deputies cleared to contest the February 14 Presidential election in the country.

Federal and states budgets remain uncertain for 2015 as the price of crude oil continues to decline. November 2014, the Governor of the Central Bank, suggested that the price would go as low as $50 per barrel.

“But in all sincerity, I think that the level of consumer abuse in Nigeria is so huge that anybody coming into it and promise within a year that he is going to surmount it is just unrealistic and that’s why I have made no promises.”— Dupe Atoki

ABUJA—Concerned Anioma Patriotic Forum, CAPF, in Delta State, has expressed apprehension over alleged discrepancies in the documents of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s, House of Representatives candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of the state.

AFTER his last exhibition in 2009 and the unfortunate incident that happened to him, (the assassination of his good friend and Curator of that exhibition), Anambra state born artist, Olisa Nwadiogbu embarked on what could be described as a wilderness journey. But last month, Olisa announced his return from the wilderness with a solo exhibition titled Efforts. The exhibition which is his fourth solo opened at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos State.

EARLY this week, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, swore in Honourable Justice Patricia Mahmoud as the Acting Chief Judge of Kano State. It was as historic as it was a most deserved appointment. Patricia is the wife of our old comrade, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), and in her own right one of the genuinely decent and progressive daughters of our country.

The court noted that it was better to hear the defendants before taking any decision on the issues raised by the plaintiff in the ex-parte application.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on National Security and a member representing Ideato federal constituency of Imo State, Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe, has defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

OWERRI — The leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Imo State, has threatened to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to court, over faulty distribution of permanent voters cards, PVCs, in its areas of stronghold.

No fewer than five persons were feared dead and several others injured in a renewed fight between political thugs in Ijora area of Lagos, yesterday.