Ekiti Guber Live: APC Primary (Local Govt. Delegates Voting)

Mercy Lank

The APC primary election is in progress in Ado-Ekiti to elect a candidate on the party’s platform for the 2019 General Elections. Here are the highlights of the process as it happens.

13:49 p.m. Delegates from local government areas across Ekiti filing in from outside the hall to vote. 13:38 p.m.

 Delegates from each local government area voting;

 Ekiti east voting now.

 Numbers of delegates from some of the local government areas: Ado LGA: 182,

 Accredited 146

 Efon LGA: 144, Accredited 121 Ekiti

 West: 158,

 Accredited 148

 Ijero LGA: 168,

Accredited 156

 Irepodun/Ifelodun: 157,

Accredited 145

13:22 p.m.

 Fayemi, Oni, Arise, Bamisile, Faparusi,

others cast votes. 13:12 p.m. Total accredited delegates voting now stand at 2.326 out of a total official figure of 2,618.APC PRIMARY DELEGATES 13:09 p.m Statutory delegates commence voting.

 12:25 p.m. Accreditation concludes at 12:25; voting to commence now with statutory delegates. Delegates leave immediately after casting their votes. 12:22 p.m. Other aspirants of Ekiti APC Primary, Segun Oni, Bayo Orire (standing),

Bimbo Daramola, Kolade Victor, Kola Alabi, Muyiwa Olumlua and others. Voting will commence in 10 minutes. 10:53 a.m Fayemi fraternizing with other aspirants as he comes in. 10:25 a.m. APC will lose if delegates sell their votes to imposed aspirant, warns only female aspirant for governor

Yaya Kolade. 10:10 a.m. Heavy security at Ekiti APC primary venue, accreditation in progress. 9:45 a.m. Accreditation for Ektit APC primary ongoing amid high security.

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APC ward congress: What Imo APC leaders discussed with Osinbajo

Mercy Lank

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State on Thursday met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential villa behind closed doors. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Governor Rochas Okorocha was not in the meeting although he was at the VP wing of the Presidential villa at the time. The meeting was as a result of the disagreement between Gov Okorocha and the APC leaders over the result of the May 2 ward congresses held in the state, with the governor claiming that the congresses did not hold. Okorocha had met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura and now the Vice President pushing for the cancellation of the congresses. After the meeting, the APC delegation had initially declined to speak with State House Correspondents, but changed their mind after they saw Okorocha telling the correspondents that new date for the congresses would be announced by the party. According to Okorocha: “There will be new Congress; there was no Congress at all in Imo State, and it is very clear that even the supporting documents and videos show that there was no Congress. “INEC has confirmed no Congress, security agencies have confirmed no Congress, the party leadership has confirmed no Congress, and the party chairman has spoken no Congress. “And, nobody came to the field, the result sheets was missing and it was traceable to the national organizing secretary’s house (Sen. Izunaso) and all of a sudden the chairman of the panel disappeared from his house at 6pm in the evening. “How could there have been Congress? The matter is being investigated by the security agencies.” “If all these have been established why did you (the APC chieftains) have to come with your delegates to see the VP?’’ He added. The governor stated that he was not part of the delegation but came for a different thing all together. “I didn’t come for this meeting,’’ he said. However, Mr Theodore Ekechi, the spokesman for the Imo APC delegation and a former commissioner for information and strategy said the meeting with Osinbajo was very eventful. “We are grateful for the opportunity and privilege to tell the other side of the story. “I think by our presentations we have successfully deflated all the lies that have been peddled all over the country and within the state. “I think by our presentation today, we have been able to state clearly that Congresses clearly and really held. “What did not take place in Imo state last Saturday was simply that we resisted the temptation, the intimidation, the blackmail to write the results of the congresses in the Government House, Owerri. “What did not take place last week is that we said the old has passed away and things are going to be done anew in Imo State. “In other words, not one man determines the results of the congresses in the 305 wards of the state. It is very clear that APC has returned to the owners of the party, that is the people. “You saw all those who came with the Governor, his son-in law and newly recruited commissioners.

“But here you are, this is Imo State, here we have the deputy governor of the state, the only elected senator of the south east under APC, former speaker house of assembly, Imo state, another former speaker house of assembly.’’ He also mentioned Ifeanyi Ararume, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government and immediate past chief of staff, and two former commissioners for information and strategy. Others were the State Party chairman and his deputy and the 25 local government chairmen of the party in the state.

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Killings in Nigeria: UN issues warnings to security agencies

Mercy Lank

The United Nations on Thursday advised security agencies to act swiftly on early warning signals of attacks on communities in Nigeria. Mrs. Sewuese Torkuma, the Gender Technical Advisor of the world body, gave the advice in Jos, during an advocacy visit to the headquarters of `Operation Rainbow’, a state-owned security outfit charged with tackling violence in Plateau.

“The security agencies must be proactive; you cannot wait for the violence to take place before you start chasing the perpetrators. “You must strive to avert the persistent loss of lives, destruction of properties and displacement of women and children,” she said. She urged the security agencies to allow more women to occupy higher positions to enable them play crucial roles in the peace building process. Torkuma said that the visit was to sensitise `Operation Rainbow’ on the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which seeks to promote gender parity at all levels of decision making. In his remarks, Maj. Gen Stephen Ngua’r (rtd), Coordinator of the security outfit, said that it was adopting an all-inclusive policy that would involve everyone in the handling of responsibilities. DON'T MISS: Download DailyPost Android app and earn unlimited free Airtime He said that the UNDP would soon train the outfit’s staff on information gathering skills and strategies for detecting early warning signals.

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Manchester United shot stopper David de gea wins Golden Glove for the first time after 18 clean sheets in EPL

Mercy Lank

'It is for everyone, it is a team award': David de Gea wins Premier League Golden Glove award for first time after claiming 18th clean sheet at West Ham

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has won the Premier League Golden Glove award for the first time. The Spaniard claimed his 18th Premier League clean sheet in United's 0-0 draw at West Ham on Thursday night. Manchester City's Ederson is in second place on 16 with just one league game remaining. Following the news, team-mate and fellow Spaniard Juan Mata retweeted United's tweet and wrote: 'Best in the world.' The accolade adds to the other awards he has already won this season, including the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and United's Players' Player of the Year. The shot-stopper was also named in the PFA Team of the Year. Amazingly De Gea, who joined the Red Devils back in 2011, has never won the Golden Glove before.

'It feels good, it is my first Golden Glove award,' he told MUTV after the match at the London Stadium. 'I am really happy for that. It means we defended well in this league, I am happy for me and happy for the team. 'It is for everyone, it is a team award, not just for the goalkeeper. It's good for me but I am also happy for the team.' 'David has been terrific,' manager Jose Mourinho said. 'But the Golden Glove is about the team and not about somebody analysing the goalkeeper, and deciding this is the best goalkeeper of the Premier League. 'It is about clean sheets and they are about the team. Obviously, we are all very happy for David and it is a great team achievement.'

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Nigeria: Nine Killed in Fresh Taraba Attack - Police

Mercy Lank

The Police Command in Taraba on Wednesday confirmed the death of nine persons in early morning attacks on Tutuwa community in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, David Misal, told journalists that a yet-to-be identified armed militia must have carried out the deadly attack. Mr Misal said Aliyu Tafida, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the command, and heads of other security agencies in the state had already moved in to assess the situation.

Rimansikwe Karma, the Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, while also confirming the attack to newsmen, added that three people were injured. Mr Karma said that the attackers rounded up the village at about 5 a.m. and launched the attack when members of the community were going for early morning prayers. "Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid-week service and most of them were on their way, when the armed militia attacked them. "Nine persons were killed and three others sustained life threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Takum General Hospital. "The unfortunate thing is that the attackers left before the arrival of security personnel," he said.

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Barcelona’s Chiefs have discussed the prospect of selling striker, Luis Suarez this summer.

Mercy Lank

Catalunya Radio reports that Barcelona’s hierarchy have agreed to sell Suarez only if the Catalan club complete the signing of forward, Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid this summer. According to the Spanish outlet, Barcelona’s board members have already floated the idea of Suarez’s sale, providing they receive a good enough offer.

The report claims that the Camp Nou club are ready to meet Griezmann’s release clause, but will clear the decks to make room for new arrivals. Meanwhile, speaking about Griezmann last week, Suarez admitted he would welcome the France international’s arrival. “It makes the club proud to bring players of this quality like Antoine, like [Ousmane] Dembele and [Philippe] Coutinho came,” Suarez told Spanish Station Radio Rincon. “He’s a player who brings a huge amount, he has a lot of years playing at the highest level, always fighting. “He rules up front for Atletico and that is fundamental. “He is not coming to take the place of anyone, but with the ambition of winning important things. “He will be welcomed.”

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Jurgen Klopp praised for criticism of Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah

Mercy Lank

John Aldridge has praised Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp for his handling of Mohamed Salah’s diving controversy. Salah was named the PFA player of the year after the Egypt international scored an incredible 31 times in 35 outings in the Premier League this term.

The African forward has netted 10 times in the Champions League to help Liverpool FC reach the final for the first time since 2007. While Salah has barely put a foot wrong this term, the Liverpool FC summer signing was booked for simulation during the Reds’ 1-0 loss to Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Klopp was quick to criticise Salah’s dive in his post-match media conference despite the risk of upsetting his key players ahead of vital games against Brighton and Real Madrid in the coming weeks. Former Liverpool FC star Aldridge was impressed with Klopp’s swift decision to condemn Salah’s act of simulation. “I was impressed with how Jurgen Klopp dealt with the Mohamed Salah dive situation at the weekend,” Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo. “Salah’s brilliant form was never going to go on forever and that dive came from being frustrated at Chelsea. “Other managers might have tried to excuse it, but Klopp dealt with the issue head on and said the player won’t do it again.” The Reds were 7-6 aggregate winners against AS Roma in the Champions League semi-finals. Liverpool FC haven’t won the Premier League title but finished in second place in 2002, 2009 and 2014.

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