West Ham reduce ticket prices after record television deal

West Ham have become the first club to announce they will reduce season ticket prices as a result of the Premier League's record television deal.

Sky and BT Sport have paid £5.13bn for live Premier League television rights for three seasons from 2016-17.

West Ham's cheapest adult season ticket that season will cost £289, down from between £620 and £940 for the 2014-15 campaign.

The 2016-17 season will be the club's first at the Olympic Stadium.

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "We have always said that the move to our magnificent new stadium would be a game changer for West Ham.

"It was a chance to increase revenue, invest in the team and improve our performance on the pitch, but without putting an extra financial burden on the supporters who already come to watch every home match.

"This announcement proves we have kept our promise."

Although the cost of season tickets at West Ham are rising for the 2015-16 season by a maximum of 5%, they will fall again for the following campaign as the new television deal begins.

The Olympic Stadium will have 19,000 more seats than the 35,016 at West Ham's current home, Upton Park.

The club is paying £2m a year to rent their new ground.

If they are still in the Premier League in 2016-17, the club say their cheapest adult season tickets will cost £289, which means fans will pay £15.20 for each of their 19 home league games.

All season tickets for under-16s will be cut to £99 - or £5.21 per match.

These banners appeared at Selhurst Park during the Crystal Palace v Arsenal match in February

Since the television deal was announced, there have been protests at a number of Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace and Liverpool, as supporters vent their anger at the cost of watching football.

BBC Sport's Price of Football survey showed that 15 of the 20 Premier League teams offered cheaper 2014-15 season tickets than West Ham.

Manchester City had the cheapest tickets at £299.

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, has called for more clubs to drop ticket prices.

"Any reduction is welcome, so two cheers for West Ham for that," he told BBC Sport.

"But before we give them three cheers, we await to see what they do about price categories, what they do about away fans and what they do with ordinary admission.

"We're hopeful this is the first of many moves by the clubs to significantly reduce ticket prices. We will definitely keep up the pressure to ensure it happens.

"Now the other clubs have a year to respond, so let's see who can offer the lowest season ticket in a year's time."

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "West Ham's announcement is further evidence that Premier League clubs do offer stretch pricing and think about providing opportunities for families and young people when considering ticket offers for their fans."

Premier League football in the capital in 2014-15
Club	Cheapest season ticket	Most expensive season ticket	Cheapest match-day ticket	Most expensive match-day ticket
All figures from BBC Sport's Price of Football calculator
Arsenal	£1,014	£2,013	£27	£97
Chelsea	£750	£1,250	£50	£87
Crystal Palace	£420	£720	£30	£40
QPR	£499	£949	£25	£70
Tottenham	£765	£1,895	£32	£81
West Ham	£620	£940	£20	£75

Plaintiffs Seeking To Stop Buhari Make U-Turn

Plaintiffs in two of the three pending suits challenging the eligibility of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to contest in the March 28, 2015, presidential election have been withdrawn.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding over the matters at the Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently struck out the matter after the plaintiffs indicated their intention to withdraw the suits on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s Disqualification Will Bring Great Chaos – APC

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is representing one of the plaintiffs told the judge on Wednesday that his client decided to withdraw his suit to afford the incoming government time to focus on the “enormous task” of governance.

When the second case which was filed by Max Ozoaka was called, his lawyer, Dr. Chike Amobi, also adduced similar grounds for withdrawing the suit.

With the Wednesday’s development, the remaining pending eligibility suit against Buhari is the one filed by Ayakeme Whiskey (FHC/ABJ/CS/68/15).

As of the time of filing this story, no date has been fixed for the hearing in the pending suit.

Buhari, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was on April 1 declared winner of the election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The complainants had filed the suits challenging Buhari’s eligibility, asking the court to declare him ineligible to contest in the election on the basis of his alleged failure to submit his certificate of academic qualifications along with his Form CF001 to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The plaintiffs claim that Buhari’s failure to submit his certificate of academic qualifications contravened provisions of sections 131 and 318 of the 1999 Constitution and section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/425892-plaintiffs-seeking-to-stop-buhari-makes-u-turn.html

'Rise Above Petty Issues' - Kashamu Responds To Tinubu

A Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu has called on Nigerian politicians to rise above petty issues and be democrats in not just words but also in deeds.

Kashamu was reacting to statement by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who accused him of being a pretender, Vanguard reports.

The senator-elect had a few days ago, showered praises on Tinubu over his role in the recently-concluded general elections. In response, Tinubu had taken a swipe at him, saying, he does not need praise-singing from someone who bought his election victory and is wanted in the United States for drug related offences.
Not happy with Tinubu’s response, Kashamu in a statement released on April 21, Tuesday, said he was shocked by the unwarranted attacks against him.

According to him, he was not singing Tinubu’s praises but was only being a true sportsman and thought it wise to congratulate those who won the 2015 general elections.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reaction to the innocuous congratulatory messages that I sent to him and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“First, I must say that I doubt if the statement was approved by him. However, if it was, I must state that I am taken aback by the unwarranted attacks against me as if we were still campaigning. It is unbecoming of someone of his stature and calibre.

READ ALSO: Ogun Youth Warn OBJ Against Attacking Kashamu

“It is high time politicians and leaders rose above petty issues and raise the bar in constitutional democracy. We should not just be democrats in words but also in deeds. We should play politics without bitterness.

“It is on record that no Nigerian politician has taken former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the cleaners even as a sitting President like Asiwaju Tinubu did. Yet, Chief Obasanjo forgave him. As for me and Baba Obasanjo, he remains my father and leader, just as I am his son and follower. At no time did I abuse Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

“As a true party man, I campaigned vigorously for my party and its candidates. Now, the elections are over, and as a true sportsman, I thought I should congratulate those who won.

“Short of any praise-singing, what I said in the congratulatory message that they chose to react to a week after it was published was that there was no way anyone can wish away the achievements of Asiwaju Tinubu in the nation’s political annals, particularly in Yoruba land. Part of the message also reads: ‘Although I now belong to the opposition, your achievements transcend political divides and I am not ashamed to publicly acknowledge them. I salute your courage, commitment, doggedness, forthrightness and tenacity of purpose even in the face of daunting opposition and challenges. By your sheer wit and unwavering commitment to democratic ethos, true federalism and economic prosperity, you led the Alliance for Democracy (AD) from a one-party state to a regional party, and now a national party that is about to form the government at the centre.

READ ALSO: Kashamu Shunned Presentation Of Certificates Of Return

“How do these translate to praise-singing? Are they not facts of history that I merely adumbrated?

“He accused me of purchasing my election with money, the appropriate forum to prove that is the election petitions tribunal and not the pages of newspaper.

“On the U.S case, I wish to state for the umpteenth time that the United States as the bastion of democracy and the Rule of Law would not lend itself to any form of abuse of the fundamental human rights of an innocent soul, especially one that has been arrested, tried and freed by its most trusted ally – the United Kingdom.

“I am not running from any trial. All I have asked is for the relevant parties to follow due process – if they believe that I yet have a case to answer.”

Kashamu added that no one should play God, saying, “I believe in the supremacy of the almighty Allah who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners. ’I stand with the almighty Allah Subhana Wa Tala. He is the protector of all humans. He is my refuge and shield.”

US officials have insisted that Kashamu ought to be jail instead of the senatorial seat and they have reportedly started fresh moves for his extradition to face drug trafficking charges on American soil.

Kashamu had filed a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through his lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, accusing former president Olusegun Obasanjo of being behind these moves.

No Escape Route For Fayose – APC Elders

The Elders’ Forum of the All Progressives Congress in the Ekiti State has declared that there is no escape route for the state Governor Ayo Fayose in the impeachment process initiated by 19 members of the state House of Assembly.

The body said Fayose has serially breached the Constitution, desecrated the esteemed office he occupies and should be ready to face the consequences of his actions.

READ ALSO: Ruling On Fayose Case Gave Hope For Democracy Survival – PDP

The Publicity Secretary of Ekiti APC Elders Forum, Dr. Bayo Orire, who made the group’s position known on Tuesday, also warned the military and the police against being used to hinder the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional functions.

Condemning the military for turning back the 19 APC lawmakers from entering Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday, Orire said the party’s elder body was concerned about an alleged open partisanship of officers and men of the Nigerian Army on the matter.

He also said the police and the Army should not be watching helplessly for hoodlums to seize the whole state and interfere with the constitutional duties of the Assembly members.

Dr. Orire explained that the lawmakers should not be blamed for signing and forwarding an impeachment notice against Fayose, saying a responsible House of Assembly was not expected to look the other way when the chief executive was overstepping his bounds.

He said Fayose has violated the oath he swore to defend the Constitution and not do anything to infringe on the rule of law, urging the people of the state not to see the action of the lawmakers as an attack on the governor but to save the state from impunity and sliding into an “irredeemable dictatorship.”

READ ALSO: Fayose Is The Chief Security Risk Of Ekiti — Omirin

The APC elders’ spokesman maintained that whatever constitutional action taken by the 19 lawmakers remain legitimate, legal and binding since they have met and surpassed the two-third majority needed to remove an erring governor.

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers in Ekiti State to embrace the olive branch extended to them by Governor Ayodele Fayose in the interest of the development of the state.

Nigerian Budget Missed One Fifth Of Govt Money In March

Nigerian revenues in March fell nearly 21.5 per cent, the accountant general Jonah Otunla informed public late on Monday. That drastic decrease of government revenue resulted in lowering budget payments in March.

Jonah Otunla informed that in March Nigeria distributed $400 million less than in February.
Photo: theeagleonline.com.ng

Nigeria government revenue fell 21.5 percent of total expected revenues to 315.04 billion naira in March, that equals around $1.6bn. One fifth of the expected revenues didn’t come into the state treasury because of the pipeline shutdowns. Lower earnings from the non-oil sector also attributed the decrease of revenue in March, according to the accountant general.

READ ALSO: Nigeria 2015 Budget: Jonathan Requests For New Aircraft 

Local, state and federal government received 435.06 billion naira or nearly $2.2bn In March. Jonah Otunla also informed that in February authorities of all levels received 522.05 billion naira or $2.6bn.

READ ALSO: Police Want Five Times Allocated Budget 

Details of the budget are not available to Nigerians, amid an unusually high expectation of the budget’s specifics as the government struggles to minimize the impact of slumping oil price. Many Nigerians are eager to see in clear details how the government has responded. 

Details On How The Presidential Election Was Won And Lost

Fresh details have emerged on Monday on how the presidential election was won and lost. 

Outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, smile profusely

Punch Reports

It was gathered from a PDP chieftain   that   his   party and the APC   devised fresh methods on   how to outwit each other three months before the March 28 elections.

The source, who is a member of the PDP NWC, said a key component of his party’s strategy centered on the Permanent Voter Cards.

READ ALSO: Ijaw Group Urges Jonathan To Grant Ibori Presidential Pardon

He said, “The whole thing started in January when we observed that the PVC distribution was skewed. Already, we knew that President Jonathan would not win any state in the North-West which is the biggest geopolitical zone in the country because it has seven states.

“We in the PDP decided to focus on Lagos and other states in the South but the APC connived with the Independent National Electoral Commission when the distribution of PVCs was moved to the local government headquarters.

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“APC leaders were allowed to collect PVCs on behalf of their members while the distribution of PVCs in Igbo-dominated areas was frustrated in Lagos. We in turn quickly sponsored some protests in Lagos but by the time the cards arrived, the time was too short for all of them (cards) to be distributed.”

He claimed that when the Presidency realised that the PVC distribution was favouring the   APC, “a series of meetings was held and it was decided that Prof. Femi Mimiko, the younger brother of the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, should be made the INEC chairman while Prof. Attahiru Jega would be asked to go on terminal leave.”

The   source   however said that Jonathan was not ‘brave’ enough to implement the idea because he jettisoned it when some northern elements in the PDP leaked the information to the APC.

The source said, “There were some northern elements in the party that were always giving the APC information whenever we ended our meetings. We then conspired to postpone the elections.”

He said the postponement of the polls   from February 14 was to ensure that the PVCs or the card readers were not used.

The source added, “We (PDP) spent a considerable amount of money trying to convince Nigerians to reject their usage.

“We decided to use the newspaper adverts and protests by the Oodua Peoples Congress and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra to enlighten people of the ‘danger’ of using the PVCs or   card readers but the APC, which has a strong media base was able to twist the issue to its favour.

“The PDP Governors’ Forum also met with civil society groups in Lagos and gave out money to the groups to continue to hold protests in various parts of the country but these people were not given adequate media coverage.”

The source stated that even on March 28, efforts were made to manipulate the results of the polls.

The source said it was curious that card readers worked ‘perfectly well’ in the North but poorly in the South where even the President could not get accredited through the device.

He said, “The truth is that we all plotted our strategies to win the elections but the APC did a better job and I have to congratulate them.

“We knew that our plot could only work well where the APC is not considered strong but we did not expect huge figures from the North.

“The APC got 1.9 million votes in Kano State with little or no voided votes. How could that have been possible? The APC also got millions of votes in Kaduna and Kastina states; so we responded by ensuring that the figures in Rivers State rose to 1.4 million. In reality, less than 700,000 people voted in that state due to violence.

“When we saw what was happening, we reached out to governors in the South-South to try all they could to delay the collation of results in their respective states until all the northern states had been announced.

“However, it was only Delta State that succeeded and that was why the results were announced the following day and Jonathan got about 1.2 million votes.”

READ ALSO: PDP To Expel Chiefs Over Jonathan’s Defeat

INEC in Lagos had in a statement by its Head, Public Affairs,   Femi Akinbiyi, denied allegation that it deliberately deprived non-indigenes of their PVCs or giving preference to APC members.

The commission, however, admitted that two of its officials were sacked for denying non-indigenes their PVCs in February.

Meanwhile, The All Progressives Congress has won the rescheduled Edo State House of Assembly election for Orhionmwon Constituency II.

Jega Summons Imo REC As Voters Protest Guber Poll

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has summoned the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Dr. Gabriel Ada, and the Returning Officer for the state’s governorship election, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe to Abuja.

A source at INEC, who pleaded anonymity, told Daily Sun that the development followed different petitions and complaints trailing the April 11 governorship election in Imo State. The electoral officers, the source said, were expected to brief Jega on the irregularities in 23 of the state’s 27 local government areas that compelled the commission to declare the governorship poll inconclusive.

Daily Sun gathered that Jega was worried about the circumstances leading to the cancellation of over 150,000 votes in the governorship election. At least, election in six wards were cancelled in Oru East Local Government Area.

In a related development, a group of voters numbering over 30,000 yesterday, petitioned Jega over the governorship election in Imo, urging him to cancel the entire governorship election outright.

In the petition dated April 20, 2015 the aggrieved voters’ lawyer, Ahamefula Njoku, said many of the, “result sheets were changed, swapped, doctored or falsified. Ballot boxes were also snatched at gun point.”

Against INEC guidelines “which stipulate that only voters with permanent voter cards could cast their votes,” he said, “many voters without PVC were allowed to vote, including under-aged persons.”

Njoku added: “Another set of our clients, who are also represented in this matter informed us that the name, symbol or logo of Hope Democratic Party, which many of them wanted to vote for, was curiously missing from the ballot papers given them by INEC officials, thereby effectively disenfranchising them. They contend that this is a clear violation of their constitutional rights and you are in the best position to remedy it.

“These issues have generated so much tension and controversy that if not properly addressed, could lead to violence and destruction of lives and property.”

Insisting that the election was a sham, counsel to the petitioners said: “Our clients have asked us to demand from you, an immediate cancellation of the entire results announced in Imo State so far and stop the re-run election scheduled for April 25, 2015 and conduct a brand new election on or before the April 28, 2015 where these fundamental breaches can be corrected.”