See 6 things you need to know about the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa :

1. The election will be conducted in the eight local government areas of the state.
2. 20 political parties are fielding candidates in the election.
3. There are 663,748 registered voters in the state.
4. There are 1,806 Polling Units spread across the local government areas.
5. 54% of the voters are men while 46% are women.
6. The contest is between the candidates of two parties,incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party and a former governor of the state, Timpre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress.

The Nigerian Naira yesterday fell to a record low against the dollar on the black market, according to a report from Bloomberg.

The black market, or parallel, rate fell to 253 per dollar from 246 on Thursday and 222 last month, according to Aminu Gwadabe, president of the Lagos-based Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria.

That’s 22 percent weaker than the official rate used in the interbank market, which was 198.50 at 5:16 p.m. in Lagos, the commercial capital.

CBN had fixed the official exchange rate at 198-199 per dollar since March after its governor Godwin Emefiele restricted banks’ ability to buy dollars. In June, a ban was planced on importers of about 40 items from obtaining foreign-exchange.

Foreign investors have made several calls for the CBN to devalue the currency and relinquish its strong hold on forex policies.

“The central bank will say they don’t care about the parallel market, but investors are looking,” Gwadabe said.

“Why will they bring in their money at 197 or 198 when the parallel rate is 250?” he queried.

He said his association has requested a “crucial” meeting with the CBN on Dec. 8 to address the issue.

“If they continue what they’re doing this week, next week will be worse,” Gwadabe said.

Ibrahim Mu’azu, a spokesman for the central bank, wasn’t available for comment.

Spanish football authority have kicked Real Madrid out of this year’s Copa Del Rey cup and also fined them for fielding an ineligible player, but they are appealing the decision.

The Rafael Benitez’s side fielded Russia winger, Denis Cheryshev in the fourth-round tie, despite being suspended after picking up a third yellow card in the semi-finals of last season’s competition when on loan at Villarreal, and scored Real’s first goal.

But Real’s coach after realising Cheryshev had been banned removed him from the action moments after half-time, saying they wanted to “show good faith”.
Spain’s football federation said Friday Real Madrid had fielded an “improper lineup” and that the two-match series was settled “in favour of Cadiz”. They have been fined 6,000 euros (£4315) but the 19-time Cup winners have said they will contest the decision.

Their statement, issued on Friday evening, read: “We have received the decision of the competition committee chief and the club has come to the conclusion that it is acknowledged the RFEF (Spanish FA) has not personally notified the player Cheryshev, which is the only way for a sanction to take effect, as per article 41.2 of the disciplinary code.

“Real Madrid confirm it will take the necessary steps and is confident the final verdict will be favourable to the club.”

See photo of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan strolling to their polling unit.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently tackle issues arising from the use of card readers.

Speaking after his Permanent Voters Card was not recognized by the card reader, Jonathan said, ”About five people who came with me including my mother, my elder sister and a former commissioner in Bayelsa State were rejected. These are known people, they cannot go and carry a fake or cloned card, yet the card reader rejected them for accreditation”; Naij reports.

He urged the people of Bayelsa to stay calm and vote peacefully.

Controversial music star, Cynthia Morgan disclosed to in a recent interview with Punch that children from single parents mostly turn out to be wayward as they do not have someone tough enough to caution them.

According to the ‘German Juice’ crooner, who disclosed that she never knew her father until she was 7years old, there is this psychological effect that comes with growing up without your parents.

In her words, “The first time I met my father was when I was seven years old and I know what it feels like. There is the psychological effect that comes with growing up without your parents together as a kid. It is only few people like me that came out normal and I became determined to be successful in life so as to make my mother proud.”

The singer added that some kids today have used the opportunity of not growing with both parents to live a wayward life.

“Some people use that as an escape to be wayward and turn out to be a single parent just like their mothers who gave birth to them. They forget that no woman wishes to be a single parent if they really knew what they were going into. Everyone wants the best for their kids and having a father is one of those things,” she said.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria on Friday released a statement saying it had received information that groups “associated with terrorism” may be planning attacks against hotels in the country that are frequented by Westerners.

“The U.S. Mission advises all U.S. citizens to be vigilant when at hotels and around areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers … locations where large crowds may gather; and government facilities,” the statement said.

The embassy said it had no further information regarding the timing or method of any planned attacks, Reuters reports.

A global travel alert issued by the U.S. State Department on Nov. 23 had listed Boko Haram as active in Nigeria. It also listed Boko Haram among groups that it said “continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions.”