Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior says his side’s “very good team performance” was let down by “not managing moments” as they received a ninth red card in all competitions this season in a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
MATCH REPORT: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has expressed deep concern over the reported abduction of His Royal Highness, Ezeogo Francis Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area and father of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, by suspected armed men on Sunday morning.
The incident occurred along the Nwakpu axis of the council area, as the traditional ruler was reportedly on his way to church.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Monday Uzor, and obtained by Channels Television.
Governor Nwifuru described the development as deeply troubling and totally unacceptable, noting that acts of criminality against innocent citizens, especially revered community leaders, will not be tolerated in Ebonyi State.
READ ALSO: Ex-Deputy Governor’s Father Kidnapped In Ebonyi
While expressing solidarity with the family of the abducted royal father and the people of Ikwo Local Government Area, the governor assured that the Ebonyi State Government had immediately activated all security and intelligence mechanisms to ensure the safe and prompt rescue of the monarch.
“All security agencies in the state have been directed to work in synergy to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
He stressed that the government would deploy all available state apparatus and resources to unmask those behind the criminal act and prevent any recurrence.
He further called on residents of the state, particularly those in Ikwo and surrounding communities, to remain calm but vigilant and to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in their ongoing operations.
Nwifuru reiterated the commitment of his administration to the protection of lives and property across the state and reassured the people that Ebonyi State would not be allowed to become a safe haven for criminals.
He also urged the perpetrators to release the abducted traditional ruler unconditionally, emphasizing that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone found culpable.
Footage captured the moment an Iranian drone struck the US military’s Camp Buehring in northwestern Kuwait, impacting with an explosion and cloud of smoke.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 poll.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said this on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act.
“Moving forward, we will conduct mock presidential elections to ensure that transmission across state lines is seamless before the actual vote,” Amupitan said during the event held in Abuja.
Debates about the real-time transmission of election results have dominated headlines in Nigeria in recent months, especially before the passage and signing of the Electoral Act 2026.
READ ALSO: 2027 Elections Will Be Our Best Yet, INEC Assures Nigerians
It was the subject of intense debates in the 2027 presidential election after INEC reported a “glitch” in the transmission of the results for that poll.
But Amupitan, a professor of law, is assuring Nigerians of better days ahead, one year ahead of the general elections.
“Regarding the ‘glitch’ that was blamed for issues in 2023, let me be clear: the glitch is eliminated. It will not surface again,” he added.
“My audit of the 2023 election showed that while the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) was tested in state-level elections like Osun and Ekiti, it was not properly tested for the scale of an interstate presidential election.”
INEC assured Nigerians of a credible election, promising to eliminate glitches.
“By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever had. The electorate of 2027 is more aware and understands the direct correlation between elections and national development,” Amupitan said.
“We want a process that guarantees the legitimacy and confidence people want to see in their system. When people trust INEC and their leaders, the country will move forward.”
He said INEC is putting in the needed work to ensure that next year’s polls are credible.
The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has faulted the proviso inserted by the National Assembly in the Electoral Act 2026 allowing manual transmission of election results where electronic transmission fails due to network issues.
Itodo stated this on Sunday during the Citizen’s Townhall, a discussion on the Electoral Act 2026. He stressed that Nigerian politicians missed an opportunity to write their names in gold during the amendment of the Act.
“Some call this the elephant in the room, but I will say that this was a missed opportunity for Nigeria and this was a moment our political leaders had the opportunity of writing their names in gold by giving Nigerians what they demand.
“I think the proviso in this particular provision is the problem because it undermines the whole concept of electronic transmission of results and transparency,” Itodo said.
READ ALSO: Opposition Parties Reject 2026 Electoral Act, Demand Fresh Amendment
The YIAGA Africa Director called on lawmakers to recommence the amendment of the Electoral Act 2026 to expunge the proviso that allows manual transmission of results.
According to him, the proviso negates the core objective behind the push to amend the Electoral Act 2022, which he said was intended to make the electoral process more transparent by reducing human interference.
“I just wished that the lawmakers eliminated that particular proviso. This is why we made a call to them to commence the process of amending that Act and just delete that particular proviso.
“That way, as a country we will maximise the utility of electronic transmission of results because it limits human interference, it makes the whole process open and transparent. If politicians are not scared I see no reason why this was not considered in its full breadth,” he said.
On February 18, President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law, following its passage by the National Assembly after months of deliberation.
Vitor Pereira is still searching for his first Premier League victory as Nottingham Forest boss.
A 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Sunday – in his third league game in charge – stretched their winless run to five league games.
With 10 games to go, Forest teeter just two points above the relegation zone.
But Pereira, who became the club’s fourth permanent manager this season when he replaced Sean Dyche last month, insists he is not paying attention to the Premier League table.
“I believe we need to focus on the present and focus on the day we play, focus on the game we are playing. Not to look at the future,” Pereira told BBC Sport.
“The future… we will see what happens. If you lose your focus thinking about what can happen, this is a mistake in my opinion.
“Just look at the now. Just rest, be ready, prepare for the next game and focus on the next game.”
Pereira blamed a lack of preparation time for their defeat at Brighton.
The club lost 2-1 at home to Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday, although they progressed to the last 16 thanks to their 3-0 win in the first leg.
It means that Forest, who have been drawn against Danish side Midtjylland, will end up playing six games in the first 22 days of March.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Pereira said: “The tiredness is not only physical, it’s mental too. You need to recover.
“But this is what we have. You cannot use the Europa League as an excuse because we are there and we are there competing.
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Forest are a long way from the joys of last season, when they finished seventh and secured a place in Europe for the first time since 1996.
The club have won just seven of their 28 league games this term and they have struggled without last season’s top scorer Chris Wood, who has been out since October with knee injury.
Only bottom side Wolves (15) have failed to score in more Premier League games this season than Forest (13).
Tottenham, too, have European football to contend with – in the Champions League – and have also been drawn into the relegation battle.
Like Forest, Tottenham are adapting to a new manager in Igor Tudor who has lost his first two league matches in charge.
Promoted side Leeds also have only seven wins to show for the season so far, but they have six points separating themselves and the danger zone.
Unlike Forest, Leeds have stuck with their manager Daniel Farke and have challenged some of the league’s top sides, taking points off Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.
West Ham – under former Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo – are on course to be relegated from the Premier League for the first time since 2011.
They are two points adrift of safety, but have experienced an upturn in results of late with a victory over Burnley alongside draws against Manchester United and Bournemouth.
While West Ham are still within touching distance of the teams above the relegation zone, Burnley and Wolves have a mountain to climb if they are to stay up.
While Wolves are not mathematically down yet, data experts Opta rank their chances of relegation as 99.98%.
