ENYA'S GIST BLOG

President Muhammadu Buhari has again praised his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, for peacefully handing over in 2015. Mr Buhari in 2015 became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria to win a presidential election after defeating Mr Jonathan. Since then, Mr Buhari has repeatedly commended Mr Jonathan for peacefully handing over. The president reiterated his stance Thursday night when he hosted members of the Kannywood entertainment industry to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Mr Buhari, who recalled his political struggles since 2003 when he made his first attempt to clinch the presidential seat, lauded Mr Jonathan for accepting defeat in the 2015 general elections. “I’ll continue to hold former president Jonathan in high esteem as a result of that singular act. “He (Jonathan) was in power as Deputy Governor, Governor (Bayelsa), Vice-President and President, all for about 10 years and he voluntarily accepted defeat and surrendered power to me,’’ he said. ...

Sen. Bukola Saraki Senate President Bukola Saraki has administered the oath of office on Lawal Gumau (APC, Bauchi South) and Ahmed Babba-Kaita (APC, Katsina North), the newest senators in the country. The swearing-in took place at the Senate on Wednesday. Mr Gumau emerged winner of the Bauchi South senatorial election held on August 11. He was declared winner by the returning officer of the election, Ahmed Fadam, who supervised the final collation of the results. Mr. Gumau, who was a member of the House of Representatives, polled a total of 119,489 votes beating his closest rival, Ladan Salihu of the PDP who polled 50,256 votes. He replaces a late senator, Ali Wakili, who died on March 17. Mr Babba-Kaita was declared winner of the Katsina North senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), scoring 224,607 votes, while his elder brother and a retired customs officer, Kabir Babba-Kaita of the PDP scored 59,724 votes. He replaces a late senator, Mustaph...

Speaker Yakubu Doraga A new member of the House of Representatives, Haruna Isah, who was recently elected in a bye-election to represent Lokoja/Koton-Karfe federal constituency of Kogi State has been administered his oath of office by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara. Mr. Isah won the by-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the vacancy created by the death of the former occupant of the seat, Umar Jibrin, on March 30. He polled 26,860 votes to defeat Bashir Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 14, 845 votes. The late Mr Jibrin was until his death, the deputy house leader. Like the new lawmaker, the deceased was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).