Monalisa Stephen, the Nigerian actress and content creator, has opened up about her experience in an abusive relationship.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, she stated that she did not initially recognise the abuse until she was physically assaulted.

"You can be abused whether you’re fat or not. When I got the first slap, I was shocked. What led to the slap wasn’t even worth it. I was dazed. The experience was unexpected, and I felt really bad because this was someone I trusted. Even though he was below my league, I lowered my standards to date him.

“This person kept beating me and humiliating me. I asked him, ‘Why do you keep doing this to me?’ and he said his friend told him that people like me need to be ‘bent’ so he could dominate me. That made me see some men in a different light.”

She added that though many people think that public figures don’t have problems, reverse is the case.

She also stated that some people, including those who come to date them, see popular individuals as targets.

Davido, the Afrobeats star, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “incompetence” in the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Edo.

On Saturday, residents went to the polls to elect a successor to Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is completing his two-term tenure of eight years.

Seventeen political parties are participating in the election, with the major contenders being the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP).

The key candidates include Monday Okpebholo (APC), Asue Ighodalo (PDP), and Olumide Akpata (LP).

During the election, there were reports of vote-buying and the presence of political thugs at some polling units.

Ighodalo also accused the police of voter intimidation.

“One of our supporters was arrested by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry a gun to a polling unit; that’s against the law and regulation,” he said.

Davido, who recently expressed enthusiasm for the election and supported Ighodalo, criticised INEC, labeling it “the most dangerous institution in Nigeria” and “very incompetent”.

He also urged the commission to enhance its operations, adding that the world is watching the unfolding events in the state.

“The most dangerous institution in Nigeria @inecnigeria,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Very incompetent @inecnigeria fix up! The world is watching #Edodecides.”

The singer continued his tirade against the electoral body on X. He also revealed why he is interested in the state election. 

“My mom is from Edo for those wondering why I’m interested in the election … but we as Nigerians should be concerned sha .. @inecnigeria shame on you I know how many times I had to come in here and rant before they got it right in Osun ! It’s really bad . God help us,” he wrote.

The governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has won his polling unit.

Obaseki had after casting his vote said commended the electoral process at his polling unit. He commended voters who came out to vote despite the heavy rain experienced in the state.

His words: “You can see despite the inclement weather people have turned out in their large numbers. You can see the enthusiasm.

“It is not mid-day yet and the ballot box in my polling unit is already full. And so clearly that tells you that people are very interested because they have been mobilized. And have been very interested in this election. This is why I am not surprised.

“For now I am glad with what I see, the process in my units has been smooth. I hope the collation process will be the same. It will be peaceful and the results will be counted and there will be no destruction.

“I am glad with the extent of military presence in the state. As you know the federal security agencies have taken over the state. I am not the Chief Security Officer of the state, the Inspector General of Police, IGP is the Chief Security Officer”.

On the other hand, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Olumide Akpata has lost his polling unit.

He pulled 32 votes against PDP that got 41. At polling unit PU11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, garnered 19.

Recall that Akpata had advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that what he experienced at his polling unit was replicated all over the state and allow the peoples’ vote to count.

According to him “The process went well, I want to hope that this is the experience of every Edo voter, but I’m not going to make that assumption standing here, I want to wait for feedback from my agents across the state, its 192 wards, 4500 polling units.

“We are hopeful that this will be the experience of every Edo voter and I am calling on INEC that the playing field should remain level, nobody should be given any undue advantage, all of our agents should be allowed into collation centres, the agent of all parties, nobody should be hindered, prevented from going into the collation centre, so that we can all witness the process, and be able to confirm that it was done in the manner as provided by law, the electoral act and the constitution.

“So, INEC has no excuse, this is an off-cycle, and they have the luxury to deploy their resources.

“All eyes are on INEC, the entire country is on INEC, and we are hoping that they will do a good job.

“It left to see if the heavy deployment of security personnel to Edo is for the people or the certain individual”.

Frank Mba, a deputy inspector-general of police (DIG), says there has been a large voter turnout in the Edo state governorship election.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Mba, who is in charge of security for the election, said he witnessed a large voter turnout at some polling units visited.

“We’ve visited a couple of polling units, and so far, so good; we’ve seen a large turnout, but there are the places where the turnout was quite low,” Mba said.

The DIG also said the security situation during the election has been encouraging.

“For us, our major concern is the all-round security of the elections, and I am so far encouraged and impressed,” he said.

“In areas where we’ve received minor complaints, we’ve risen up to the challenge, and we’ve been able to fix those ones.

“We are still out to continue monitoring, and we are optimistic that all will end well.”

Seventeen candidates are battling for the votes of 2.2 million electorates in the race to succeed Godwin Obaseki, the incumbent governor of Edo.

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) are the major contenders in the election.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s daily consumption of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, reduced to about 30 million litres after subsidy removal.

Tinubu spoke on Friday during a meeting with a group of former lawmakers at the State House in Abuja.

He said although Nigerians are complaining about the current “petroleum crisis”, the country must achieve PMS security.

“Yes, we have fuel in the ground. But do we have the capacity to bring it up before we refine and distribute? Have we examined alternative sources of energy with all that the world has given to us?” he asked.

“When I resumed, I said the subsidy was gone. There was no subsidy in the budget handed over to me. I can’t be creative and look for magic lamp to create a budget. And ever since, we maintained that position.

“From several millions of litres (of petrol), now we are down to 30 something. We are now knowing the true consumption of how much we are taking.

“We are not here and we should not be here. And I know you are not one of them, the smugglers. Look at the prices across the countries — Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nije, Benin Republic to Ghana – check the prices.”

On July 18, 2023, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said petrol consumption fell to 46.38 million litres per day in June, from the average daily consumption of 65 million litres, largely due to the removal of subsidy.

‘SUBSIDY PREVENTED NIGERIA FROM INVESTING IN HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS’

Due to the subsidy cost, the president said Nigeria was unable to equip hospitals and build new classrooms.

“If we are spending this money on ourselves, I believe we will get better return, happiness, and development programme, even if we invest it in our infrastructure,” he said.

On May 29, President Bola Tinubu said the petrol subsidy regime is over.

Almost three months later, TheCable reported that Tinubu was considering a “temporary subsidy” on petrol as crude oil prices and foreign exchange rates soared.

However, Ajuri Ngelale, former presidential spokesperson, said there was no reintroduction of subsidy.

Also, on January 3, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited denied the return of petrol subsidy, saying it had been removed entirely.

However, on April 15, Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, said the federal government is spending more on petrol subsidy than before.

TheCable also reported on August 19 that Tinubu approved a request by NNPC to utilise the 2023 final dividends due to the federation to pay for the petrol subsidy — but NNPC denied the existence of petrol subsidy.

However, on the same day, the national oil company said the federal government owes it N7.8 trillion for petrol subsidy.

Naija News reports that the funds are intended to aid thousands of people whose lives were upended by the flood.

During his visit, Seyi emphasized his focus on supporting the youth, a demographic severely affected by the disaster.

Seyi stated that this initiative marks the beginning of long-term support for those in Borno.

When he was received at the state government house by the state Governor, Babagana Zulum, and other important dignitaries, Seyi addressed the people of Borno state and highlighted their resilience in the face of past insecurity that had affected the state.

He commended the remarkable strength and resilience shown by the people of Borno, acknowledging their ability to rise above numerous hardships and challenges faced in recent years. He expressed optimism that the state would recover and emerge stronger from the flood’s devastation.

He said, “We are here today, not just as representatives of our family but as members of a collective effort of young Nigerians to bring hope and relief to those who need it most. This is a moment for solidarity, compassion, and immediate action.

“Maiduguri and Borno State have rich histories. The people are resilient. Despite the issues of the past few years, they have braved all odds which is why such a painful national tragedy that befell the state deserves our collective effort, support and prayers. Even more, it deserves our active collaboration and contributions.

“When my dad, President Bola Tinubu, visited Maiduguri earlier this week, he spoke about the urgent need for the private sector and individuals alike to step up in support of the communities affected. Inspired by his call, my wife Layal, and I through the Noella Foundation, my brother Yinka, our friends, and numerous private sector partners have joined hands to respond swiftly to the needs of those displaced by this tragedy.”

The donation package contained a range of essential relief materials, including:

– Food Supplies: A variety of staple foods such as rice, maize, flour, loaves of bread, groundnut oil, spaghetti, tomato paste, salt, and other items crucial for daily sustenance.

– Medical Supplies: Seyi ensured the provision of critical medications for nearly 50,000 people, including anti-malarials, pain relievers, anti-diabetics, anti-hypertensives, antibiotics, and other necessary prescriptions.

– Household Items: To further ease the burden of the flood victims, the relief package included 10,000 mosquito nets, mattresses, blankets, buckets, mats, kettles, sanitary pads, wrappers, and other household essentials

Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says the rest of the country will bear the consequences if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “messes” with the Edo governorship election.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Odinkalu said there is hardly anywhere one can go to in Nigeria without passing through Edo.

“If Mahmood Yakubu & @inecnigeria mess with #EdoDecides2024, all of #Nigeria will suffer it: there is hardly anywhere u can go to in Nigeria without passing through Edo,” he wrote.

On September 14, the ex-NHRC chair chastised Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chair.

He was subsequently rebuked by Kamson Chidubem, convener of Civic Integrity Initiative (CII), for “biased criticisms and media abuses”.

On Friday, former President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to INEC and security agencies to remain neutral in the discharge of their responsibilities during the governorship election.

Jonathan said INEC and security agencies have a “moral burden” to act as “independent arbiters” during the poll.

Seventeen candidates are battling for the votes of 2.2 million electorates, in the race to succeed Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor of Edo.

The founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Mike Bamiloye, has warned Christians to stop sharing fake testimonies in churches.

He asserted that those behind embellished testimonies are playing pranks with God.

The clergyman shared his reservation on his Facebook account on Thursday

He stressed that people who engage in the acts ‘are being used by the devil’.

This comes amid controversial miracle testimonies shared by church members of Lord’s Chosen Church in viral videos that have since ignited social media discussions.

Bamiloye wrote: “PLAYING PRANKS WITH GOD! If you stand on the Lord’s Altar to give fake testimonies deliberately, you are playing pranks with God! If you mount the Altar of God to deliberately tell lies that

“God has done what He knew nothing about, you are playing pranks with God!

“If you arranged a fake testimony to be said on the Lord’s altar just to pump up congregation, you are playing pranks with God! If the devil set you up to embarrass the church through all his reckless bloggers, you are playing pranks with God!”

The preacher also warned bloggers who are eager to condemn the body of Christ for money, reiterating that they are unaware that they are led by the devil.

He noted that God is supreme, emphasising that he can do all things as established in the Holy book.

“And you BLOGGERS looking for things to write against the Church of Christ, employed and paid by the devil to drag His Body in the mud and stripe the church naked in the market place for monetisation, come on, you are ignorant of the fact that you are being used by the devil.

“As for me, God is unlimited. There is nothing, absolutely nothing He can not do! He can do ALL THINGS! He brought water out of the rock. He walked upon the sea. He brought out a coin from the fish’s mouth. He turned water into wine and multiplied bread in the hands of disciples.

“The entire Bible is full of mind-blowing miracles! Luke 1:37 KJV For with God, nothing shall be impossible. But if the Devil has given you a gift and you come to the Lord’s Altar to give God the glory, You are playing pranks with God,” he added.

Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the Edo state governorship election, has lost his polling unit to Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ighodalo polled 41 votes to defeat the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who garnered 32 votes at polling unit 11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA in Benin City, the capital of Edo.

Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), scored 19 votes.

Earlier, Akpata asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a level playground for all candidates in the race.

He expressed optimism that every voter in the state would cast their vote peacefully.

“I was given my ballot paper, went to the booth, thumb printed, and dropped it in the ballot box. Everything went well,” Akpata said.

“I hope this is the experience of every Edo voter. I will wait for feedback from all the wards and polling units.

“We are calling on INEC to ensure that the playing field remains levelled and that no candidate is given any undue advantage.

“All of our agents should be allowed into the collation centre. Nobody should be hindered or prevented from entering the collation centre, so that we can all witness the process and confirm it was carried out as prescribed by law—the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

“I’m calling on INEC. This is an off-cycle election, the only gubernatorial election taking place in the entire country, so they have no excuse. They have the luxury of deploying their resources to this state.

“They also have the latitude to ask security forces to focus on Edo state, so I would imagine that anyone given the tools and resources should be able to do a good job. All eyes are on them; the entire country is watching INEC.

“Regarding security, the massive deployment of security forces in Edo is a good sign for me.

“Now, it remains to be seen whether the deployment is for the people or to benefit certain individuals.

“I mentioned yesterday that I noticed two APC trucks parked outside the home of Senator Oshiomhole. That does not give me confidence.

“Two APC trucks—major equipment meant for the people—are outside his home. What are they doing in front of his home? That gives me cause for concern, but we are watching.”

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a notorious gunrunner and seized 20 locally fabricated AK-47 rifles near Buruku Bridge in Igabi Local Government Area.

The Command’s PPRO, ASP Mansir Hassan, in a statement said the arrest occurred around 4:00 pm when officers from the Buruku Division were conducting routine patrol near Buruku Bridge.

“Upon stopping a black Golf III saloon vehicle, police conducted a thorough search and found the rifles hidden in the booth, along with an empty Type 06 magazine.

“The suspect, identified as Bitrus Gyang, hails from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State,” ASP Hassan stated.

The PPRO further explained that during questioning, Gyang admitted to his involvement in gunrunning and disclosed that he had previously transported fabricated rifles on at least three occasions.

“He is currently cooperating with the police as investigations continue to identify his accomplices. 

“Commissioner of Police Audu Ali Dabigi commended the officers for their diligence and commitment to duty.

“He assured the public that the police will continue to intensify efforts against kidnappers and bandits throughout the state, ensuring they face relentless pressure,” the PPRO added.