Trump pays $3m for vote recount in Wisconsin

 

U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign on Wednesday paid $3m for a partial recount of Wisconsin’s presidential election results.

The request was part of the long-shot attempt by the campaign to reverse President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

While staying out of the public eye, the Republican Trump has persisted in venting his anger on Twitter, where he made claims of election fraud, some of which were unsupported by evidence and others demonstrably untrue.

Election officials in Wisconsin, as well as in Georgia, said recounts in those states were very unlikely to reverse Trump’s losses.

Biden, a Democrat, warned that the continued delay by Trump in recognizing him as winner could mean the United States will be “behind by weeks and months” in the preparations to distribute a coronavirus vaccine.

Trump’s unfounded claims about the election having been “rigged” are failing in courts.

However, opinion polls show they have a political benefit, with as many as half of Trump’s fellow Republicans believing them, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission said it would oversee recounts in two heavily Democratic counties – Milwaukee and Dane, which includes Madison – after the Trump campaign paid the $3 million cost, less than the $7.9 million estimated cost of a statewide recount.

Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said a recount would start on Friday and finish within days.

Only a few hundred votes changed in the county’s recount after the 2016 presidential election, he said.

“My guess would be that by focusing on Dane and Milwaukee the end result will be that Biden will have a slight increase in votes, but nothing terribly significant – certainly nothing anywhere near what would be required for changing the outcomes,” McDonell said.

In the state-by-state Electoral College that determines the election winner, Biden captured 306 votes to Trump’s 232. He won the popular vote by more than 5.8 million.

Biden won Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes to lead Trump 49.5% to 48.8%.

To remain in office, Trump would need to overturn results in at least three large and closely competitive states to reach the threshold of 270 electoral votes. That would be unprecedented.

The president is clinging to hope that a manual recount ordered by Georgia can erase Biden’s 14,000-vote lead there and is also challenging results in the swing state of Michigan.

Gabriel Sterling, Georgia’s voting system implementation manager, told journalists that as of Wednesday morning, election officials conducting the recount had reviewed 4,968,000 ballots – nearly all of those cast – and found Biden’s lead over Trump had fallen to 12,781 ballots, down from 14,156 previously.

Sterling said there was no evidence that fraud could have changed the outcome in Georgia.

Trump on Wednesday falsely claimed that the number of votes counted in heavily Democratic Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, had surpassed the number of residents.

- REUTERS/NAN

NCDC confirms 236 new COVID-19 cases — 142 in Lagos

 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 236 new coronavirus infections in 13 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The agency confirmed the new positive samples in its update for November 18, 2020.

The Wednesday figure is the highest in nine days — the country recorded 300 new samples on November 8, 2020.

According to the breakdown, Lagos alone accounted for more than half of the new cases with 142 infections, followed by Ogun with 19, and Kaduna with 15.

Lagos still holds the spot as the epicentre of coronavirus infections, as the state accounts for 1,305 patients out of Nigeria’s total of 3,073 active cases.

The state has also recorded the most infections with 22,704 cases so far, out of which 21,179 patients have been discharged.

Meanwhile, the country lost what would have been its zero death count for the fifth consecutive day, with one new fatality recorded on Wednesday.

But according to the NCDC, “a previously recorded death in Edo state was erroneously reported,” and as a result, Nigeria’s current fatality toll still stands at 1,163.

Before Wednesday, the last time NCDC recorded a new fatality was on November 13.

A total of 120 patients were discharged on Wednesday, increasing the total number of recoveries to 61,457.

So far, a total of 65,693 cases have been confirmed across Nigeria. - THECABLE

 

Messi ‘tired’ of being blamed for Barcelona’s problems

 

Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, has said he is fed up with being blamed for the club’s problems.

This comes after Antoine Griezmann’s former agent, Eric Ohlat, accused him of running a “regime of terror” at the club.

Messi was met by a group of journalists at El Prat airport on Wednesday upon his return from international duty with Argentina.

The 33-year-old was asked what he thought about Olhats’ claim that he had too much control at the Camp Nou.

“I am tired of always being the problem with everything that goes on at this club,” Messi replied.

Griezmann has always insisted that his relationship with Messi is good.

But Messi’s latest remarks will only increase speculation that he could leave the LaLiga giants when his contract ends next summer.

- DAILY POST

35-year-old poly lecturer murdered in Ogun

 

Mufutau Waliu, the Head of Department of Electrical and Electronics at the D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ogun State, has been killed by gunmen, suspected to be hired assassins.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Waliu was waylaid by the gunmen, while on his way out of the institution on Tuesday as they shot him severally at point-blank range.

The 35-year-old lecturer was later rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where he was confirmed dead.

The Head, Public Relations Unit of the institution, Yinka Adegbite, confirmed the incident to newsmen, saying that the police had taken over the investigation.

“The deceased closed from work on Tuesday, as he was coming out from the campus; the report we heard was that he was waylaid by some gunmen. They shot him several times.

“The institution’s management, with the cooperation of the police, immediately took him to the State Hospital, Ijaye. On getting there, he was pronounced dead.

“Of course we are yet to ascertain what happened. We have left the police to do their job. They will do their investigation normally and come out with their findings later,” Adegbite stated.

The spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, described the incident as a case of assassination, saying that the command had begun hunting for the killers.

“The CP has ordered an investigation by Homicide section. We are working assiduously to ensure that the killers are brought to book,” Oyeyemi said.

- PM NEWS

Army to launch ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in south-east

 

The Nigerian army says it is launching ‘Operation Crocodile Smile VI’ in the south-east and Cross River state.

The army 82 division in Enugu, on Tuesday, said it has concluded plans for an inter-agency training workshop on the exercise.

Aliyu Yusuf, a spokesperson of the division, in a statement, noted that the workshop will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

“In line with Nigerian Army Training Directive 2020, 82 Division will be hosting a 2-day inter-agency training workshop to launch the Exercise Crocodile Smile VI in the South-East and Cross River,” NAN quoted him to have said.

“The workshop is designed to further boost the existing cooperation among the various security agencies operating within 82 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR).”

He added that the theme of the workshop would be ‘Inter-agency Collaboration: Imperative for Joint Internal Security Operation’.

The military exercise is one of the similar operations often launched by the security agency across the country.

In 2018, when it first launched ‘Operation Python Dance’ in the south-east, there were reported cases of human rights abuses against the residents.

The exercise had also targeted the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose leader — Nnamdi Kanu — was forced to leave the country before it was declared a terrorist organisation.

- THECABLE

UNARMED PROTESTERS VS ARMY !! ‘I’m doing God’s work, can’t be arrested’ – Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau replies Nigerian Army

 The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has declared that he can’t be arrested.

Shekau explained that security operatives can’t arrest him because he was doing God’s work.

He made the declaration in response to reports of manhunt for him and his followers by the government.

The Nigerian Army had released 86 names, including that of Shekau as those wanted for terrorism in Nigeria.

All the names released are members of the Boko Haram sect.

However, Shekau, in his latest 30 minutes video, said God would protect him.

He also warned that the war against the government would continue even after him.

“Nobody can apprehend me because I’m doing God’s work. He will protect me like those doing similar work and seeking His protection.

“I’m very sure God will protect my commanders,” he said.

- DAILY POST

Report: Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Nigeria has the highest asylum seekers eyeing Canada

 

Nigeria is leading as the country with the highest nationals seeking asylum in Canada in 2020, despite the COVID-19 travel restrictions.

According to data from the Canadian government, Nigeria has topped with highest immigrants into the country for five consecutive years, displacing nationals from India and China who also rank top on the list.

The data shows that the number of Nigerians issued permanent resident permits has increased astronomically since 2015.

Having displaced China in 2017 with more asylum requests, about 12,600 economic class immigrants from Nigeria gained permanent residence in 2019, mostly through Canada’s skilled workers’ immigration programme tagged: “Express Entry”.

In 2020, Nigeria is projected to have the highest number of finalised asylum claims. This is coming at a time when there are minimal asylum filings as a result of the COVID-19 travel restrictions across the world.

Meanwhile, as the whole world battles with the pandemic, Canada is still holding the express entry draws.

The increase in migration from Nigeria to Canada has been attributed to the economic downturn in the West African country, political persecution, educational opportunities, the quest for greener pastures and Canada’s openness to immigrants.

Moreover, the decision of the United States to extend its travel ban to Nigeria has made Canada more welcoming to most Nigerians.

Recently, the North American country had expressed the willingness to welcome 1.2 million immigrants in three years in its move to expand its labour force.

This has given room for more Nigerians to file claims with reasons including political persecutions over the #EndSARS protest that rocked the country in October. Some even file claims of discrimination owing to sexual or religious orientation.

“Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, every person who wants to enter Canada must appear for an examination at a port of entry in order for government officials to determine whether that person has a right to enter Canada, or if the individual may become authorized to enter and remain in Canada,” the Canadian government noted.

- THECABLE

Trump loses case in Pennsylvania in another blow

 

In another major legal blow, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has dismissed a complaint by Donald Trump’s campaign that observers weren’t allowed close enough to observe the electoral count in the state.

The 5-2 decision ruled that Pennsylvania counties could determine the particulars of election observers, and that state law only required they be ‘in the room’ when votes are counted.

The court ruled that the elections board in Philadelphia, the state’s largest city, acted reasonably in keeping Trump campaign observers behind barricades and 15 feet (4.5 meters) away from counting tables, rejecting an appeal from Trump’s campaign.

The court found that restrictions that Philadelphia election officials put in place ‘were reasonable in that they allowed candidate representatives to observe the Board conducting its activities as prescribed under the Election Code.’

Among the evidence cited were claims made in the campaign’s own witness statements, including by a lawyer who served as an observer and shared observations from inside a vote canvassing facility.

The court’s opinion, which reversed a lower court ruling which was the Trump camp’s only significant victory, noted that the campaign’s ‘own witness’ provided testimony which contradicted the claim.

It said the restrictions ‘did not deprive’ the observer of the ability to observe what went on with the canvassing process in a meaningful way.

The legal setback snatched away the Trump camp’s lone win after filing a series of state lawsuits challenging actions by county election officials in states that went to Democrat Joe Biden.

The ruling is expected to hobble another case filed by the Trump campaign in a Federal court, where Rudy Giuliani appeared for Trump.

In the Federal court in Williamsport, Trump lawyer Giuliani alleged a nationwide conspiracy of widespread voter fraud, before District Judge Matthew Brann.

Giuliani, rumoured to be paid $20,000 a day for leading Trump’s legal charge, argued that the president was the victim of a nationwide conspiracy.

‘You’d have to be a fool to think this was an accident,’ Giuliani said in federal district court in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

‘It’s a widespread nationwide voter fraud of which this is a part.’ Trump and his lawyers have yet to provide evidence of such a nationwide conspiracy – although they have increasingly pointed to voting machines that the president claims ‘deleted’ votes from him and ‘switched’ them to Joe Biden.

Giuliani did not raise complaints about voting machines in court, instead claiming Democratic-controlled counties didn’t allow Republicans to see ‘a single absentee ballot’ during counting.

‘I used to vote by absentee ballot a lot, because I traveled a lot,’ Giuliani acknowledged during his argument.

A loss in the case would likely doom Trump’s already-remote prospects of altering the election’s outcome.

Mark Aronchick, a lawyer representing several Pennsylvania counties, sounded exasperated with Giuliani’s claims and said that the former New York mayor was “living in a fantasy world.”

“Dismiss this case so we can move on to the real business of this country,” Aronchick told Brann. “Let’s end this.”

The case initially included claims that Republican observers were denied access to ballot-counting. But Trump’s campaign on Sunday narrowed it to focus on a claim that some voters were improperly allowed to fix ballots that had been rejected due to technical errors such as missing an inner “secrecy envelope.”

During the hearing, Giuliani, a former senior federal prosecutor who has not been a courtroom regular for decades, made sweeping claims despite the campaign’s earlier narrowing of the case.

Giuliani said election officials in the state only let “their little mafia” look at the ballots, but provided no evidence to back up that claim.

Trump, the first U.S. president to lose a re-election bid since 1992, has called the election “rigged” and has falsely claimed victory.

State election officials around the country have said they have found no evidence of the widespread fraud that Trump claims.

Daniel Donovan, a lawyer for Pennsylvania’s top election official, called the state’s handling of the election during the coronavirus pandemic a success.

Donovan argued that Trump’s campaign was asking a federal court to “micromanage” routine differences in county practices.

Pennsylvania officials have said a small number of ballots were allowed to be fixed.

Trump’s campaign, however, asked Brann to halt certification of Biden’s victory in the state.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar is due to certify the election results next Monday, meaning Brann is expected to rule quickly.

Biden, due to take office on Jan. 20, is projected to have won Pennsylvania by more than 70,000 votes, giving him 49.9% of the state’s votes to 48.8% for Trump.

Trump’s campaign said Democratic-leaning counties unlawfully identified mail-in ballots before Election Day that had defects so that voters could fix, or “cure,” them.

Pennsylvania officials said all of the state’s counties were permitted to inform residents if their mail-in ballots were deficient, even if it was not mandatory for them to do so. The pandemic led to a surge in mail-in voting.

Biden clinched the U.S. election by winning Pennsylvania to put him over the 270 state-by-state electoral votes needed. Biden, a Democrat, won 306 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 232.

- PM NEWS

Yellow fever scare in Kogi as unknown illness ‘kills 50’

 

An unknown illness has reportedly killed at least 50 persons in Ette community, Olamaboro local government area of Kogi state.

Ujah Alewo, the lawmaker representing Olamaboro constituency in the state house of assembly, disclosed this via a motion introduced during the plenary session on Tuesday.

He said there is no confirmed diagnosis of the illness of which symptoms include headache, sore eyes, loss of appetite, inability to urinate or defecate and convulsion before death.

Olamaboro shares boundary with Igbo-Eze north LGA in Enugu state where the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed an outbreak of Yellow fever of which symptoms also include jaundice and headache.

TheCable had reported that the disease has spread to two more LGAs in the state; it already killed at least 76 people in three states.

Alewo said the illness has defied treatment with herbs and at the local health centres.

“More worrisome, all efforts to seek a solution, using the local herbs and treatment at local health centres with referrals to neighbouring clinics and hospitals at Ogugu and Okpo in Olamaboro respectively were not successful,” THISDAY quoted him to have said.

“The reports reaching my constituency office from the community leaders confirmed that over 50 people within the economic and productive age of 25 to 40 years died from September to date, thereby stalling agricultural, social and economic activities, which directly affect the food security of the agrarian and artisan Etteh people.”

He added that the deaths have caused panic among residents in the affected community, and called on the state government to intervene.

The NCDC and Saka Haruna, the state commissioner for health, have been contacted for their response.

- THECABLE

Woman locked up by husband for 4 years, had 3 kids while caged

 

A mother of eight who was reportedly locked up in a room for four years by her husband in Orerokpe, Delta State has been released.

However, the intriguing thing about this gross man’s inhumanity to man, is that it was alleged the husband, a bricklayer, locked her up because his girlfriend accused her of being a witch.

Yet while she was caged for four years, the man fed her only bread, and would sneak into the room to have sex with her and in the process she had three children for him.

She urinated and defecated in that same room throughout the four years she was caged.

The woman, who was simply identified as Gladys and hails from Ozoro in Isoko North Local Governtment Area, Delta State, was rescued on Monday when residents in the community alerted Harrison Gwamnishu, human rights activist and founder of Behind Bars Initiative, a non-governmental organization.

The woman had eight children for the man, three of which she had while being caged.

While sharing details on Faceboook, Gwamnishu wrote: “ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT AND CAGED FOR MORE THAN 3-YEARS IN OREROKPE, DELTA STATE.”

“We received this few hours ago and we are currently in Orerokpe for her full REHABILITATION and the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in this despicable act.

“All road leads to OREROKPE. CC Peter Mrakpor WARRI Aproko.”

“STORY: She spent the last four years of her life locked up by her supposed husband. She was peeing and defecating in the same room where he fed her bread. Not the regular sweetened bread though. She gave the said man 8 children, three of which she had while she was locked up by him in Orerokpe community.”

The woman has been taken to the hospital for necessary medical attention while her husband has been arrested.

The case is currently under investigation.

The woman, told neighbours after she had been taken to the hospital that the husband’s girlfriend had accused her of witchcraft and had asked him to lock her up.

She also said her husband told their children that they should wait for her to die so they will throw her dead body inside the river.

According to one Onome who spoke to TPCN on the phone on Tuesday, the neighbours reported the incident to the Divisional Police Station in the area, and that led to the man’s arrest.

“She gave the said man eight children, three of which she had while she was locked up by him in the community.

“I wasn’t told I was there. I saw with my eyes. The man told neighbours his wife was deceased.

“His children when they were interviewed said they were waiting for her to die so that they can throw her away in the river.

“In the four years she was locked up she had three children for him. She was taken to the general hospital in Orerokpe yesterday and is currently receiving treatment.

“As a woman I am pained and broken. I want to appeal on well-meaning individuals if you have an NGO that is into rehabilitation of women please reach out,” she said.

- PM NEWS

LaLiga ‘ready’ for Messi’s departure from Barcelona

 

Laliga president, Javier Tebas, has insisted they are ready for Lionel Messi’s exit from Barcelona.

According to him, the Spanish topflight coped well after Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo left.

Tebas does not believe Messi’s departure would have any more an impact.

However, he again criticised what he deems as unfair financial practises of Manchester City, who have been the club most strongly linked with signing Messi from Barca.

“We would prefer Messi to stay in La Liga but Ronaldo and Neymar left and we have not noticed any difference,” Tebas said.

“We are ready.”

“It seems the only club in the Premier League that talks about registering Messi is Manchester City, who compete outside the rules.

“I am not the only one saying this. City is neither affected by Covid or pandemics or anything because they are financed differently and it is impossible to fight against that.”

- DAILY POST