News
Trump says election ‘far from over’, vows to contest results
President Donald Trump vowed Saturday to press forward with a legal fight, pushing unfounded claims of voter fraud in response to the news that President-elect Joe Biden had won the election.
Trump was at his Virginia golf club when NBC News and other networks projected Biden as the winner.
While crowds gathered outside the White House to celebrate Trump’s defeat, inside the building it was mostly quiet. Several aides were in quarantine after his chief of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Hours ticked by after Biden was projected to be the winner without a public appearance by Trump. He released a statement within minutes of the announcement claiming that the “election is far from over.”
“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated,” Trump said. “The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots.”
Trump took to Twitter hours after the announcement to continue to make unfounded claims that rampant voter fraud occurred. He also boasted about the 71 million votes he won, the most by any incumbent president but not enough to secure re-election.
When asked, neither Trump nor his campaign has presented evidence that illegal ballots were counted. Despite having repeated the claim for days now, the Trump campaign has failed to provide any sound evidence of voter fraud.
Trump sought to depict the decision by news networks to project Biden as the winner as evidence that forces were working against him.
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over,” Trump said in his statement. He added, “I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands.”
Election administrators around the country have also worked to make the process transparent, allowing representatives from both parties, as well as the news media, into the rooms to watch votes as they are tabulated. Philadelphia offered a livestreamed video to allow the public to watch.
Still, Trump’s team of lawyers pressed on with its strategy to litigate the election results even as some privately acknowledged that the efforts would have little impact.
“Now that there’s a call, I’m sure the lawsuits will continue, but the fact remains: You can’t un-count votes,” a person close to Trump’s re-elect effort admitted.
News
Adeleke Orders Arrests After Associate Ajagungbade Is Reportedly Killed in Ife
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed security agencies to arrest anyone found to have been involved in the reported killing of his associate, Olamilekan Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade.
Ajagungbade was reportedly shot dead in Ile-Ife on Sunday amid a dispute connected to the leadership of a motor park.
Reacting to the incident, Adeleke ordered Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura to take immediate action against those responsible. The directive was disclosed by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
The governor also ordered rival groups involved in the park dispute to leave the motor parks while security agencies work to restore calm.
“There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book” Adeleke said, while urging residents to remain calm.
As part of his response, the governor announced plans to bring back the Park Management System across the state, saying an Executive Order would soon be issued to provide the legal backing for the arrangement.
The renewed system is expected to regulate the operation of motor parks and garages and address disputes over their management.
Ajagungbade was described in the report as a close associate of the governor and a member of the Accord Party.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting and the identities of those responsible had not been fully disclosed at the time of reporting.
News
Police Arrest Two in Delta, Recover Guns, Daggers and Battle Axe
Two suspects are in police custody in Delta State following separate raids that resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other items, the state police command has said.
The latest operation involved the arrest of Chukwuka Nzete, also known as “Ododo”, in Isupe Community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
Police said Nzete was suspected of dealing in illegal firearms and alleged that he ran a shrine used to fortify suspected criminal elements.
Items recovered during a search of his residence included a pump-action gun, four dagger knives, a battle axe and pots containing substances suspected to be charms.
The command said detectives were investigating to establish the extent of Nzete’s activities and whether he had links with other criminal groups.
A separate operation also led to the arrest of Joel Iwomi, 36, in Umuebu, Obiaruku.
According to the police, Iwomi resisted attempts by operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit to enter his residence before officers eventually gained access and conducted a search.
The search allegedly produced a pump-action gun and 18 live cartridges.
Both suspects have been taken into custody while investigations continue.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel E. Erale, said the command would continue efforts to keep illicit firearms away from criminal elements and prevent weapons capable of threatening public safety from circulating in the state.
He urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements, illegal firearms and other criminal activities.
The police said information supplied by members of the public would be handled confidentially.
News
Tinubu Arrives Paris for Second Phase of European Vacation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Paris, France, as he continues his three-week annual vacation in Europe.
The President was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, following his arrival in the French capital on Sunday.
Tinubu began the holiday in London after departing Abuja on August 30. The Presidency had announced before his departure that the President would spend three weeks in Europe as part of his annual leave.
The move to Paris marks the second phase of his European vacation.
In the statement announcing the trip, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said London would be Tinubu’s first destination and that he was expected to return to Nigeria after the working vacation.
The Presidency said his return would coincide with preparations for the January 2027 general election, as political activities intensify ahead of the polls.
Tinubu is seeking another term in office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
No detailed public itinerary has been released for the President’s stay in Paris.
The President is expected to return to Nigeria after completing the three-week vacation, in line with the schedule earlier announced by the Presidency.
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