SOMALI WORLD CUP REFEREE DENIED ENTRY TO UNITED STATES. (PHOTO).

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 Somali World Cup Referee Denied Entry to United States Award-winning Somali referee, Omar Artan, has been denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa, according to a senior official in Somalia’s sports ministry. Artan, who is set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the FIFA World Cup finals, was stopped at Miami International Airport and subsequently returned to Istanbul, where he had been residing. The reason for the denial was not immediately disclosed. However, Somalia is among the countries affected by a travel ban introduced by the administration of Donald Trump. Reacting to the development, Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, described Artan as one of Africa’s most respected referees. “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir told AFP on Monday. He added that preventing the referee fro...

ELECTION: INEC CONFIRMS NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS FOR IMO, BAYELSA KOGI POLLS.(PHOTO).


Election: INEC confirms numbers of registered voters for Imo, Bayelsa Kogi polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said over 5.4 million Nigerians are on the voter register for the Nov. 11 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

This was disclosed in a statement by Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee.

The statement read in part, “The Commission held its regular meeting today, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, and, among other issues, reviewed preparations for the off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

“For the forthcoming elections, there are 1,056 862 registered voters in Bayelsa State; 2,419,922 in Imo State; and 1,932,654 in Kogi State, making a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters for the three states.

“As provided in the timetable and schedule of activities, soft copies of the complete register of voters for each state will be presented to the political parties participating in the elections. For emphasis, 16 political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa State, 17 in Imo State and all the 18 parties in Kogi State.

“State Chairmen of political parties or their designated representatives are invited to attend the event which will take place at the Collation Centres in the State Headquarters of the Commission in Lokoja, Owerri and Yenagoa on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 10.00am”.

“The exercise will take place simultaneously in the three States on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

“Once again, the Commission appeals to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters Cards PVCs for the exercise.”


 

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