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 Over 4,000 card readers have been reconfigured for the April 11 governorship/ state Assembly elections in Sokoto, the Independent National Electoral Commission said. The commission said 20,000 ad hoc staff would conduct the exercise, adding that some of those who conducted the presidential polls were found wanting and have either been dropped or redeployed.

 A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday refused to halt the impeachment proceeding being spearheaded by the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly against Governor Ayodele Fayose, and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola. The impeachment proceeding notice is said to have been served on the governor and his deputy by the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, members who have been at loggerheads with the governor since he came on board last October.

"The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was," Leelah Alcorn wrote before her death US President Barack Obama has condemned psychiatric therapies designed to "repair" gay, lesbian and transgender youth. Mr Obama's statement was in response to an online petition calling for a ban on conversion therapies. It gained over 120,000 signatures in three months.

(Credit: BMW Group) No, this isn't a Rolls-Royce Phantom after an unscheduled trip to John Hennessey's workshop. This is Project Cullinan. It's a Rolls-Royce development mule for a new all-wheel drive system, and our first official, embryotic glimpse at the firm's coming SUV.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are pooled in Group G of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers to face the Pharaohs of Egypt. The Eagles, who were seeded during yesterday’s draw, also have Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Chad to contend with for the sole ticket of the group. The 2013 AFCON champions are ranked sixth by CAF owing to their co-efficient gathered between 2012 and 2015 editions of the African tournament including qualification series.

Militiamen loyal to the president have been unable to halt the rebel advance on Aden US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Iran over its alleged support for Houthi rebels in Yemen. He said the US would support any state in the Middle East that felt threatened by Iran, and would not "stand by" if Iran destabilised the region.

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari is expected to unveil his master plan on job creation, social security and related issues on May 29 after his inauguration. According to Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State who spoke on Wednesday while addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a thank you visit in Tambuwal, headquarters of Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state, the master plan would also address the security concerns in the country.

On Wednesday night, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th goal for Real Madrid, in a battling 2-0 win over city rivals Rayo Vallecano. Ronaldo headed Carlo Ancelotti’s men in front in the second half, before setting up James Rodrigues to seal the victory, as they ensured the gap between them and Barcelona remains four points.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has advised the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, to take the impeachment notice served on him by the 19 All Progressives Congress members of the state House of Assembly seriously, saying the notice is valid before the law. Citing sections 91, 96 and 188 of the country’s constitution, Falana explained that what was required to serve an impeachment notice was one-third of the members of the assembly, noting that the 19 members that signed the notice were more than the one-third of the total legislators required by the constitution.

Oronto Douglas Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, is dead. Mr. Douglas, 49, a presidency source said, passed on at the State House clinic at 4:58 a.m. Thursday. The real cause of his death is unknown at this time, but the presidential adviser is said to have managed a terminal illness for sometime, and had, from time to time, sought treatment abroad for prolonged periods.