As President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid garner momentum across Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has recanted its opposition.

Not long ago, ACF had cause to pick holes in the state of affairs under Buhari’s watch.

The Secretary General of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, had cited what he referred to as the President’s culture of silence following criticisms that greeted the style adopted in the prosecution of the anti-graft war.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its members in Kogi State to vote against the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye during the verification of signatures of petitioners holding on April 28.

In a statement in Lokoja on Friday, the party said that it was not in support of the recall of Melaye from the beginning.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed April 28 for the verification of signatures the petitioners that signed for the recall of Melaye.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday reiterated his decision to seek second term stressing that he would the 2019 presidential election because he has not been found wanting.

The President stated this at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, the Bauchi state capital, while addressing a mammoth crowd. He was on a two-day official visit to the state.

Confirming his decision to seek re-election, Buhari told the Bauchi crowd, “When I came into power as a military Head of State during the military era, there was nothing like insurgency in the North East, although I re-contested several times during the democratic era and lost. I contested again in 2015 and God in his infinite mercy, gave me victory.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, on Friday said he had no special interest in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 being operated by Chevron.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that OML is a lease granted by the Federal Government to oil companies for the exploration, prospecting or mining and disposal of petroleum products.

A statement in Abuja by Mr Idang Alibi, the Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, said the minister did not have equity in OML 11.

Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas

Emerging reports indicate that the Nigerian Army has declared three persons working for the UNICEF persona non-grata in the North East, Nigeria. They include Priscillia Hoveyda, Maher Farea and Milen Kidane.

The Army made this known in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday by the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas. Rogers said the decision followed various unfounded allegations against the Military. He disclosed that recently, the trio had claimed that the Military raped over 20 girls in IDP Camps in Borno. He explained that such allegation can only be fabricated by the enemy of the military and the country in general.

“The attention of the Theatre Commander has been drawn to spurious and malicious allegations of human rights violation in Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

Contrary to widespread reports that suspected herdsmen on Thursday attacked and set ablaze four Mosques, the Police in Benue State have urged members of the public to disregard the information. The police also said similar information being circulated that another church was attacked by bandits at Agana village in Mbaloh Ward of Gwer East Local Government Area of the state was not true.