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Missing Nigerian Doctor Fehintola Omidele Found Alive

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The Nigerian doctor who disappeared after failing to show up for work has been found alive in El Campo, Texas. <i>KHOU</i> reports that Dr Omidele phoned her sister around 1p.m today to tell her she is in El Campo, Texas, and that she is safe. </div>
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There are still no details how she ended up in El Campo.</div>
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Dr Fehintola Omidele, 25, who goes by the nickname FT, disappeared after being seen by her family over dinner at their Houston home last Sunday night.</div>
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Omidele’s family checked her apartment Sunday, and her car and work bag were missing but her pager and work phone were still at home.Family members received a call on Monday that the 25-year-old  didn’t show up for work at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital where she's a pediatric intern.</div>

Missing Nigerian Doctor Fehintola Omidele Found Alive

The Nigerian doctor who disappeared after failing to show up for work has been found alive in El Campo, Texas. KHOU reports that Dr Omi...

Bankole Not Governorship Aspirant - Ogun PDP

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Report by <b>Olayinka Olukoya</b>, <i>Nigerian Tribune</i></div>
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The lingering crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached cresendo, as the party denied the aspiration of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, as one of the governorship aspirants in the 2015 elections.</div>
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State chairman of the party, Mr Bayo Dayo, told newsmen in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta, on Sunday, that the party did not have any information on Bankole’s interest to contest for the governorship seat.</div>
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Dayo said the former speaker did not purchase expression of interest form from the party at the state level, insisting that Bankole was not one of the governorship aspirants that would be partcipating in today’s primaries.</div>
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“I am still saying that I am not aware that Bankole is contesting the governorship in Ogun State. The money we are using to run this party is enormous. Some people have been doing that for years. Somebody cannot just say because he has been to Harvard, Cambridge or Oxford, he is coming to lead us overnight.</div>
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“It is not going to happen. So, if you are contesting, you must come to the state secretariat and obtain an expression of interest form. Those funds that are given to us by the various aspirants are the funds we using for all these primaries and congresses. We do not have special funds for all these things. It is the money contributed by all these aspirants that we are using. I do not know anything about arrangement about Bankole,” the chairman said.</div>
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He alleged that the former speaker had abandoned the party since he failed in his re-election bid to the House of Representatives, saying he (Bankole) had been looking for “shortcut” to become the party’s standard-bearer.</div>
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He said: “If you want to contest the governorship of the state, it is only two months to election and two months to the election will you still be struggling when the aspirant should be going round the local government to tell the people what you will do?</div>
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“ I can tell you there is no shortcut to a good job. If you want to do a good job, you start from the scratch. You must follow due process. This young man is not following due process. He is only looking for a shortcut and there is none in politics.</div>
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“I can tell you today that whatever arrangement is going to happen, I am still the chairman of the party, I must know about it. Even if it is coming from our leaders at the national level, I will still at least, be an observer at whatever meeting to have a tangible discussion,” Dayo said.</div>
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Nigerian Tribune could not get the reaction of the former speaker, as calls put through to him were not going through.</div>
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<b>Credit: Nigerian Tribune</b></div>

Bankole Not Governorship Aspirant - Ogun PDP

Report by Olayinka Olukoya , Nigerian Tribune The lingering crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (...

Lagos PDP Crisis Deepens As Governorship Primary Election Holds Today

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Report by <b>Eniola Akinkuotu</b>, <i>The Punch</i></div>
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The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has told all aggrieved governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress that its doors are open to them if they are truly dissatisfied with how the APC conducted its primaries last week. Ironically, however, all is not well in the buildup to the PDP governorship primary in the state. The governorship ambitions of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and that of another top contender for the ticket, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, appear to be too big for the ‘umbrella’ to shelter.</div>
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Other aspirants who will take part in the contest are Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to Jamaica, Ambassador Tokunbo Kamson; Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, Mr. Adebayo Doherty and Mrs. Modupe Chukwuneke, the only female in the contest.</div>
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Obanikoro was instrumental to the victory of Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who emerged winner of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. Prior to the election, Obanikoro, who was still a minister, not only campaigned rigorously for Fayose but also defended the deployment of soldiers for the election. The deployment of soldiers, no doubt, gave Fayose the upper hand in the election. It was while Obanikoro was in Ekiti that leaders of the APC were barred by soldiers from entering the state to campaign for former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who later lost the election.</div>
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During the Osun State election, Obanikoro was also on the ground, where he campaigned for the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who lost to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on August 9.</div>
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While Obanikoro was on duty for the PDP, Agbaje was in Lagos where he embarked on a tour of all the 20 local government councils in the state to consult with PDP leaders. Agbaje, who has the backing of the PDP leader in the state, Chief Olabode George; as well as a former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe, shot into an early popularity lead in the buildup as he was able to acquaint himself with the party’s leaders in the state and used the party structure put in place by George to gain the advantage.</div>
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The APC had zoned the party’s ticket to Lagos-East senatorial district comprising Ikorodu, Epe, Kosofe, Somolu and adjoining communities. Also, the APC had also hinted that it was searching for a Christian to be the next governor and to this end, a former Accountant General of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, who hails from Epe, was favoured by the leadership of the party.</div>
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The decision of the APC became a reference point for the PDP and Agbaje was favoured.</div>
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Agbaje, who also hails from Lagos-East, is a prince from Ikorodu, a densely populated division of Lagos State which has never produced a governor in the state before. Like Ambode, Agbaje is also a Christian.</div>
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Apart from being favoured by the PDP leadership, several political parties in the state, including the state leadership of the Labour Party, Citizen Peoples Party and People for Democratic Change, all endorsed Agbaje as their consensus candidate. As the PDP leadership in the state believed that it would finally be able to wrest power from the APC through the candidature of Agbaje, the unexpected occurred in October when Obanikoro formally resigned his appointment and declared his intention to contest the governorship election.</div>
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The political atmosphere became charged upon Obanikoro’s entry but this has also come with its attendant issues as the party became factionalised. George, who is the state leader of the party, reportedly tried to push out Obanikoro from the race but many South-West PDP leaders quickly rallied round Obanikoro who had helped the party to gain some ground in the South-West.</div>
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Statements were issued by groups loyal to both Agbaje’s camp and Obanikoro’s camp attacking one another. Soon after, it degenerated into a legal issue as a group suspected to be loyal to Agbaje’s camp asked a court to disqualify Obanikoro, accusing him of having a dual citizenship. However, the case was immediately struck out.</div>
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Soon after, a group suspected to be loyal to Obanikoro’s camp, took Agbaje to a Lagos High court on the grounds that he was a newcomer in the party.</div>
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The plaintiff, one Nurudeen Balogun, filed a suit at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court, seeking to prevent the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting Agbaje as an aspirant or a candidate of the party. But Agbaje was quick to respond that he had been a member of the party since 2011.</div>
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As campaigns continued, Agbaje and Obanikoro continued to fire indirect shots at each other.</div>
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Obanikoro, while declaring his intention to contest at the PDP secretariat in November, said party delegates should not vote for any person that had never held a political office before. Obanikoro, who has been a minister, an ambassador, a senator, a commissioner and a local government chairman, is one of the most experienced politicians in Lagos PDP. Incidentally, Agbaje has never held a political office before.</div>
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Obanikoro further stated that it would be unjust for Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, to be run by ‘an apprentice governor’. However, Agbaje later fired back during a meeting with delegates in which he said they should not vote for anyone who was too domineering and would want to hijack the party.</div>
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Agbaje told the delegates that selecting a dictator as the candidate of the party would be like handing the governorship to the APC.</div>
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He said, “As delegates, you own the party. If you elect someone unsuitable and overbearing, he will simply take the party from you and exclude you from making input into the government. He will become another dictator, like the one in Lagos, who monopolises the appointment of councillors, local government chairmen, senators, commissioners and even market women leaders.”</div>
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The PDP Organising Secretary, South-West, Mr. Femi Carrena, accused some elders in the party of “smuggling” Agbaje into the party to contest in the party’s primary.</div>
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He said, “These are elders who, rather than preach peace among party loyalists and spread unity, love and justice to all members and stakeholders, now chose to divide the party by inciting the electorate against an aspirant who equally has the moral and constitutional right to contest the governorship seat of Lagos.</div>
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“The fact on the ground is that a couple of leaders in the state recently smuggled Mr. Jimi Agbaje into the Lagos PDP for the sole purpose of contesting the Lagos State governorship election. It was also arranged that Agbaje will pick the party’s ticket on a consensus arrangement. Unfortunately, this did not fly in Abuja, hence the forthcoming primaries.”</div>
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According to him, if the leaders of Lagos PDP truly want to win an election that had been lost four consecutive times, the tactics should be changed, which he said includes style and leadership.</div>
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He said, “It is uncharitable and un-African for elders in the party to undemocratically foist a new and unpopular aspirant in the party on the members, and then blackmail a particular candidate. I strongly believe these elders are afraid of their shadows, at the detriment of other qualified members.</div>
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“If you claimed your candidate is the most favoured by party members and Lagosians, the only sincere thing you can do, especially as elders, is to create an enabling environment and a level playing field to set the stage for a free and fair primary and let the best candidate win. Senator Obanikoro is the candidate to beat.”</div>
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However, Ogunlewe, while speaking with our correspondent during an interview, said Obanikoro was not a saleable candidate. He said Obanikoro was too controversial and it would be in the best interest of the party if Obanikoro was not given the ticket.</div>
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He recalled that Obanikoro had been accused of setting the Lagos City Hall ablaze and also accused of complicity in administering funds meant for Muslim pilgrims when he was Commissioner for Home Affairs during the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu.</div>
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He said, “In 2015, people will not vote for party but the candidate, that is our fear in the PDP. Perception is very important in politics. We must do what is expedient, what people will be happy about. The party will play a very little role in who will win the election.</div>
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“It is the candidate that will be able to convince the people and they must be able to appreciate the person. The time is too short and the person will not have time to be answering questions about allegations. Questions like what happened in City Hall, what happened to the pilgrimage funds, what is your date of birth? Is it 1960 or 1954? Where is your school certificate? What is your proper name, is it Obanikoro or Onikoro? All those things we don’t have time to be answering them anymore and these are the questions we will be answering like we did in 2007 and it took so much of our energy because Obanikoro is from the stable of the Alliance of Democracy.</div>
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“And the same chairman of the APC, Henry Ajomale, who wrote a letter against Obanikoro in 2007 outlining so many allegations against Obanikoro, is still the chairman of the APC. So, he still has all the information, correct or otherwise, which has not been answered. Somebody attended a university in America but with which name? Nobody is saying the allegations are true but they are questions that are unanswered and a political party should not spend too much of its time answering questions that are already in possession of the opposition.”</div>
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While addressing journalists at his home on Saturday, Obanikoro said events had shown that he was contesting against George and Ogunlewe and not Agbaje.</div>
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He said it was unfortunate that the party leaders would try to impose a candidate on the party but said he was confident that he would win. He had earlier told journalists that he would have to fight two godfathers in order to become governor of Lagos. One in the PDP (George) and one in the APC (Tinubu).</div>
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Although it seems too close to call, George might have his way today as the party structure in Lagos is loyal to him while Obanikoro’s allies, mostly outside of Lagos, are not state delegates and thus would not be allowed to vote.</div>
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Also, at Obanikoro’s formal declaration last week, top executive members of the party were conspicuously absent. Ironically, the chairman of the South-West PDP, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, openly declared support for Obanikoro.</div>
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However, Obanikoro could also win. In what could be described as a pre-governorship primary victory, Obanikoro’s candidate in the Lagos-Central senatorial election, Mr. Ade Dosunmu, beat George’s candidate, to clinch the ticket of the party.</div>
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Obanikoro and George are from the same senatorial district – Lagos-Central. If Obanikoro could convince 130 out of 230 delegates to vote against George’s candidate, it could imply that Obanikoro would be able to convince the 1,000 delegates that will be voting today to once again vote against George’s candidate, Agbaje, bearing in mind that in Lagos-East and Lagos-West senatorial districts, Obanikoro’s men defeated George’s candidates at the primaries on Sunday.</div>
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As the PDP continues to reposition itself in a bid to break the 16-year jinx of failure at the polls in Lagos, the conduct and outcome of today’s primary would produce an umbrella that would vie against the broom next year February.</div>
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<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/politics/lagos-pdp-crisis-deepens/">The Punch</a></b></div>

Lagos PDP Crisis Deepens As Governorship Primary Election Holds Today

Report by Eniola Akinkuotu , The Punch The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has told all aggrieved governorship ...

Party Primaries: Ndoma-Egba, Chukwumerije Lose, Murray-Bruce Wins

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The Peoples Democratic Party primaries held in various states of the federation on Sunday produced some surprises as a number of incumbents lost their bids to return to the National Assembly.</div>
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Prominent among those who lost were a three-term senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Uche Chukwumerije and the Senate Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.</div>
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The Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation committee of the PDP in the South-West, Buruji Kashamu, however, won in the Ogun East Senatorial District.</div>
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<b>Violence rocks PDP, APC primaries in Ogun</b></div>
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There were pockets of crises during   the PDP senatorial   and All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primaries in various parts of the state.</div>
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The Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation committee of the PDP in the South-West, Buruji Kashamu, however, won in the Ogun East Senatorial District.</div>
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Kashamu defeated Mrs Temidayo Oriola and Daisi Akintan.</div>
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His main rival and a former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel,   was said have earlier withdrawn from the race. But his name was still mentioned at the venue of the primary election by the electoral officers as one of the contestants.</div>
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In Ogun-West, Waliu Taiwo emerged winner with 191 votes, having defeated four other contestants.</div>
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Voting by delegates in Ogun-East and Ogun-West was peaceful but it was different in Ogun Central where it was postponed till Tuesday because of tension.</div>
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Trouble began   when some hoodlums were said to have invaded the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta, the venue of the Ogun Central primary. This made   some politicians to   allege malpractice by their rivals.</div>
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One of our correspondents gathered that the loyalists of the two contestants – a former member of the House of Representatives, Lanre Laoshe and wife of Chief Edwin Clark, Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark – almost had a direct confrontation.</div>
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According to the state secretary of PDP, Mr. Semiu Sodipo, the two contestants were ‘uncooperative.’</div>
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He said, “There was tension among the delegates of the two contestants and so we had to postpone the primary till Tuesday.”</div>
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The APC House of Representatives primaries in the state were marred with violence in some centres.</div>
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At the Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta, one of the venues of the primaries for the Abeokuta South Federal constituency, policemen   had to fire tear gas canisters   to disperse the delegates.</div>
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It was gathered that when it was obvious that a contestant favoured by the leadership of the party in the state was losing, they   truncated the process through a directive.</div>
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“We learnt a directive was issued from above that the voting should be discontinued,” one of the politicians who pleaded anonymity told one of our correspondents.</div>
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Also in Ijebu Ife,   the venue of the primaries for Ijebu East/ Ijebu North/ Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, political thugs reportedly opened fire on delegates.</div>
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As of press time, many of the APC primaries had   yet to be concluded.</div>
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The APC spokesman in the state, Sola Lawal, did not pick his telephone when one of our correspondents called him.</div>
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<b>Lagos</b></div>
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Politicians in the camp of the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, cleared the three Lagos senatorial districts during the PDP senatorial primaries. They   beat the aspirants loyal to the leader of the party in the state, Chief Olabode George.</div>
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In the Lagos-Central Senatorial District, Mr. Ade Dosunmu, who was the governorship candidate of the party in 2011 beat a former Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mr. Hakeem Gbajabiamila, who had the support of George.</div>
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In Lagos-West senatorial district,   Mr. Segun Adewale (aka Aeroland), clinched the   ticket by defeating Moshood Salvador.</div>
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In Lagos-East, Mrs. Olabisi Owolabi-Salis, beat Gbenga Osinowo to win the primary election.</div>
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Results of the House of Representatives primaries of the APC   so far announced show that , Ademola Akiolu, a son of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan, lost his bid to represent the Lagos Island Federal constituency.</div>
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He was defeated by Enitan Badru.</div>
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In the Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency, Mr. Adewale Elijah,   defeated the incumbent, Mr. Yomi Ogunnusi, who is the current deputy chairman of the House Committee on Finance.</div>
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In Ikorodu, Mr. Jimi Benson, who is a son of an Ikorodu leader, Mr. Babatunde Benson (SAN), scored 695 votes out of 941 votes to clinch the APC ticket. Earlier, the lawmaker currently representing the constituency, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had stepped down.</div>
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In Agege, the Chairman of the Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, Mr. Taofik Adaranijo, defeated the current lawmaker representing the constituency, Dr. Samuel Adejare, to clinch the ticket of the party.</div>
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Mr. Taiwo Adenekan won in the Ajeromi federal constituency.</div>
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Mr. Abiodun Faleke, who currently represents the Ikeja Federal Constituency will again fly the party’s flag in the February poll.</div>
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In   the Oshodi Federal Constituency 1, Mr. Muyiwa Olabimtan, defeated Mr. Lateef Raji, who is the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.</div>
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Also, Wole Diya, younger brother of a former Chief of General Staff, Maj.Gen Oladipo Diya (retd.), won the primary to represent the APC at the Somolu Federal Constituency.</div>
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Diya, a former member of the House of Representatives polled 199 votes to defeat Sesan Olanrewaju who scored 192 votes and Gbenga Abdullahi who polled 76 votes.</div>
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A former Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Bola Tinubu, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, who is the immediate past chairman of the Ejigbo LCDA, won in the Oshodi federal constituency 2</div>
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The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is running for a fourth term, won   at the Surulere Federal Constituency 1 by a landslide.</div>
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<b>Ondo</b></div>
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The son of a former Governor of Ondo State, Gboyega Adefarati,, was among the losers in the contest for APC ticket.</div>
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Adefarati lost the Akoko South West/East to Babatunde Kolawole, while Friday Olemija won in the Akoko North East/West.</div>
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In Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, emerged the candidate   after defeating Benson Enikuomehin.</div>
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Also, in Akure South/North, a former state House of Assembly lawmaker, Afe Olowookere,   defeated his closest rival,   Shaka Yusuf.</div>
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In Ondo West/East, there was a consensus arrangement among the party delegates.   Dele Olanubi emerged as the candidate.</div>
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<b>Abia</b></div>
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In Abia North , Chukwumerije was   beaten by Mao Ohuabunwa, who   polled 103 votes.   Onuoha Ogba polled 67 votes while Chukwumerije came third with 21 votes.</div>
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The state governor, Theodore Orji and incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe won in Umuahia Central and Abia South respectively.</div>
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Orji who was the sole aspirant in his senatorial district scored 221 out of the total 222 vote cast.   One vote was voided.</div>
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Abaribe scored 169 votes to defeat Chief Onyekachi Oje, who   got only two votes.</div>
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Four incumbent members of the House of Representatives lost their bids to return to the House while four others won.</div>
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The successful incumbents are Chief Uzor Azubuike (Aba North/Aba South federal constituency); Nkiruka Onyejiocha (Umunneochi/Isuikwuato constituency); Nkem Abonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West constituency); and Nnenna Ukaeje (Bende federal constituency).</div>
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A former Commissioner for Finance, Sam Onuigbo, defeated the incumbent Udo Ibeji to pick the ticket for Umuahia/Ikwuano federal constituency, while Uko Nkole crushed Arua Arunsi, in Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency.</div>
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Solomon Adaelu humiliated the incumbent Eziuche Ubani, in   Osisoma/Obingwa/ Ugwuanagbo constituency, while Darlington Nwokocha picked the ticket for Isialangwa North/ Isialangwa South federal constituency. The incumbent lawmaker, Chinenye Ike, withdrew from the race.</div>
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<b>Bayelsa</b></div>
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The Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, Downstream Sector, Senator Emmanuel Paulker and Chairman, Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce,   emerged winners in the Bayelsa Central and East senatorial districts respectively.</div>
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Paulker polled 174 votes against Austin Febo, who scored 17 votes.</div>
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In Bayelsa-West, Foster Ogola scored 69 votes to emerge winner while the Secretary, South South Peoples Assembly, Ayakeme Whiskey, polled 27 votes in a parallel election.</div>
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In a parallel primaries conducted by a faction of the party, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, was declared winner after polling 93 votes.</div>
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In Bayelsa East, Murray-Bruce was declared winner after polling 138 votes to beat Mr. Anthony Ikoli (SAN), who came a distant second with 11 votes.</div>
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<b>Cross River</b></div>
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Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba (SAN) failed to secure his fourth term bid following his defeat by the member representing Obubra/Etung constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. John Owan-Enoh.</div>
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Owan-Enoh polled 217 votes to defeat Ndoma-Egba and Ambassador Mark Egbe, who secured 37 and 20 votes respectively.</div>
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The atmosphere was tense at the Ikom Local Government Area secretariat where   security personnel almost outnumbered the delegates.</div>
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Dressed in white   attire, Ndoma-Egba left the scene of the exercise at 3.40pm   after casting his vote. At about 5.45pm the returning officer, Mr. Uko Enaku, pronounced Owan-Enoh the winner.</div>
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Reacting to his victory, Owan-Enoh said the outcome was an indication that the people of the district needed a change in their representation.</div>
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<b>Enugu</b></div>
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Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, was returned unopposed in   Enugu-West.</div>
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This followed the withdrawal of Governor Sullivan Chime from the race.</div>
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Ekweremadu received 294 votes out of the 299 cast. The remaining five votes were rendered invalid as a result of irregularities.</div>
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Ekweremadu said, “I want to dedicate this victory to Governor Chime – he equally made personal sacrifices to pave way for the peace we have today.”</div>
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The story was however different in Enugu North and Enugu West Senatorial districts where parallel primaries were held.</div>
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Three separate   primaries were held in Enugu East which produced three   candidates. They are incumbent senator, Gil Nnaji; a former Chief of Staff to the governor, . Ifeoma Nwobodo; and a former Minister of Information,   Frank Nweke Jnr.</div>
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The primary election which produced Nwobodo held amid tight security at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, while the primaries that were won by Nnaji and Nweke   took place at Nkwo Nike, and Ozalla, respectively.</div>
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There were also unconfirmed reports that   the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Nwabueze Okoye, emerged from another primary election in the senatorial zone.</div>
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A similar scenario played out in Enugu North. Three aspirants, including the former Commissioner for Transport, Chuka Utazi,   and a former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, contested in separate primaries.</div>
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<b>Nasarawa</b></div>
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The serving senator representing Nasarawa South senatorial district ,   Suleiman Adokwe, won his bid to fly the party’s flag.</div>
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Adokwe defeated Bala Zakari by scoring 163 votes.</div>
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<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/primaries-chukwumerije-ndoma-egba-lose-mark-wins/">The Punch</a></b></div>
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Party Primaries: Ndoma-Egba, Chukwumerije Lose, Murray-Bruce Wins

The Peoples Democratic Party primaries held in various states of the federation on Sunday produced some surprises as a number of incumb...

Obanikoro Not a Saleable Candidate - Ogunlewe

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7VxObsz6bC-XrIuTGakUugcPcTvelWSJiwhfZjCrDFR29KM3VK7-RZF2PTLOy-ZpDt6Gn14fH6NGi1eFHvmauY4A7T9IwbPLPGtOAZ7HS6ISyQ-_VYivEVDWhzpzrUmyyg3stu38HYc/s1600/Ogunlewe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7VxObsz6bC-XrIuTGakUugcPcTvelWSJiwhfZjCrDFR29KM3VK7-RZF2PTLOy-ZpDt6Gn14fH6NGi1eFHvmauY4A7T9IwbPLPGtOAZ7HS6ISyQ-_VYivEVDWhzpzrUmyyg3stu38HYc/s1600/Ogunlewe.jpg" /></a></div>
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A former Minister of Works, Mr. Adeseye Ogunlewe, says a former Minister of   State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, cannot emerge as the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party because he (Obanikoro) is too controversial.</div>
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He, therefore, urged delegates to vote for the person that could deliver Lagos to the PDP.</div>
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Ogunlewe said this during an interview with our correspondent on Sunday.</div>
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Ogunlewe, who is supporting one of the party’s governorship aspirants, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, ahead of the primary which is set to hold on Monday, said Obanikoro was too controversial and the people of Lagos would only vote for someone with a clear track record.</div>
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He said, “In 2015, people will not vote for party but the candidate. That is our fear in the PDP. Perception is very important in politics. We must do what is expedient, what people will be happy about. Party will play a very little role in who will win the election.</div>
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“It is the candidate that will be able to convince the people and they must be able to appreciate the candidate. The time is too short and the aspirant will not have time to be answering questions about allegations.</div>
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“Questions like what happened in City Hall. What happened to the pilgrimage funds, what is your date of birth? Is it 1960 or 1954? Where is your school certificate? What is your proper name, is it Obanikoro or Onikoro? All those things we don’t have time to be answering them anymore and this was what we did in 2007 that took so much of our energy because Obanikoro is from the stable of the Alliance of Democracy.</div>
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“Nobody is saying the allegations are true but they are questions that are unanswered and a political party should not spend too much of its time answering questions that are already in possession of the opposition.”</div>
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While reacting to allegations by Obanikoro that there was a conspiracy against him (Obanikoro), by the party leadership ahead of the primary, Ogunlewe said, “On two occasions we invited all aspirants to appeal to them for cooperation since only one person can win. On the two occasions, he was invited but he did not show up. If there was a gang up against him, would he have been invited?”</div>
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However, Obanikoro said he was confident of winning the primary even though the party leaders were against him.</div>
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“As a matter of fact, I do not have business with Agbaje. As far as this election is concerned, I am contesting against Bode George and Senator Ogunlewe,” Obanikoro said.</div>
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Obanikoro said all he needed was a transparent, free and fair primary, expressing the confidence that he will win the primary.</div>
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He said as one who came from a humble background, “I know that all power comes from God.”</div>
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<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/politics/obanikoro-not-a-saleable-candidate-ogunlewe/">The Punch</a></b></div>

Obanikoro Not a Saleable Candidate - Ogunlewe

A former Minister of Works, Mr. Adeseye Ogunlewe, says a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, cannot emerge a...

Party Primaries: Govs Jonah Jang, Theodore Orji Win Tickets to Senate

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<i style="text-align: justify;">The All Progressive Congress</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (APC) and </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Peoples Democratic Party</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (PDP) on Sunday held primaries to select candidates for the National Assembly seats. Our reporters  across the country report on the outcome of the elections.</span><br />
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<b>KWARA PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Ex-Rep member, Saraki’s aide, emerge Kwara PDP candidates</i></div>
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Former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Yinusa Yahaya has emerged the Kwara North Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).</div>
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Alhaji Yahaya polled 108 votes to beat his closest rival,  Manzuma Mommoh who polled 101 votes at the primaries conducted in Bode-Saadu, Moro local government area of the state.</div>
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Former  security adviser to former governor Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Yinka Aluko won the Kwara central ticket, polling 83 votes. His opponent and businessman, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak garnered 81 votes.</div>
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In Kwara south,  veteran politician and 2011 Kwara south senatorial candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Lola Ashiru beat four others to emerge as the flag bearer of the party. Mr. Ashiru, an architect polled 132 votes</div>
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<b>PLATEAU PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Jang, Dariye emerge winners</i></div>
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Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang has won the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) ticket for Plateau North Senatorial primaries held on Sunday.</div>
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Gov Jang polled 273 votes to defeat his closest and only opponent, Ambassador Ibrahim Kassai who had  18 votes.</div>
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In Plateau Central Senatorial Zone, incumbent Senator Joshua Dariye got the majority votes from the 262 .</div>
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Dariye polled 104, Hon Emmanuel Goar had  46 votes, Alexander Molwus, 84 votes and Satti Gogwim 12 votes.</div>
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<b>KWARA APC REPS</b></div>
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<i>Kwara Speaker, ex-minister, others emerge as APC Reps candidates</i></div>
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‪Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa and former Minister of State for Health, Princess Funke Adedoyin on Saturday emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s National Assembly candidates for the 2015 general elections.</div>
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Atunwa and Adedoyin are to represent Asa/Ilorin West and Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero in Kwara state.</div>
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The Speaker who was the sole candidate polled 1,545 votes to emerge the flag bearer of the party in the primary supervised by the INEC officials and five Man team of the APC from the National Headquarters led by Chief. Harry Osha.</div>
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Other members of the House of Reps that were returned unopposed include the House Reps Committee chair on media, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed representing Kaiama/Baruten and Ahman Patigi representing Edu/Patigi/Moro federal constituencies.</div>
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Other APC House of Reps candidates are a serving member of the state House of Assembly and Commissioner for Works and Transport, Tope Olayonu and Dr Abubakar Kaninke. They are to represent Offa/Oyun/Ife l</div>
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<b>EDO APC REPS , PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Ex-NLC VP wins APC Rep ticket , Senator looses seat</i></div>
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All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Edo Central was  successfully conducted on Sunday across the district.</div>
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Mr Irabor Onikolease, a former Vice President of the NLC won  the Esan North East/ Esan South East Federal Constituency.</div>
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He defeated the state commissioner of Energy and Water Resources, Mr Chris Ebare to clench the ticket.</div>
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The Senate Vice Chairman on Commerce, Mr Odion Ugbesia on Sunday lost his bid to return to the senate.</div>
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Ugbesia who is the senator representing Edo Central lost to his opponent, Mr Cliffors Ordia by 141 votes to 62 votes.</div>
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Ugbesia who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been a senator since 2007</div>
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<b>ABIA PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Orji, Abaribe, Ohuabunwa emerge winners</i></div>
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Abia state Governor , Chief Theodore Orji has won PDP Senatorial ticket for Abia Central.</div>
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Senator Enyii Abaribe and Mao Ohuabunwa also won the tickets for Abia South and Abia North respectively.</div>
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Announcing the result of the primary held at the Umuahia stadium, the returning officer, Chief Ndidi Okereke said that Governor Orji scored a total of 221 votes to emerge winner.</div>
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In Aba, the chairman of the electoral panel for Abia South Hon James Ochunkwo, announced that Senator Abaribe polled 169 votes to beat his closet rival, Mr Princewill Ojeh with two votes.</div>
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Mao Ohuabunwa a former member of the House of Representatives in the primary held at the Ohafia local government secretariat beat his closet rival, Chief David Ogba Onuoha  by 103 to 67 vote, while  the incumbent, Senator Uche Chukwumereije came a distant third with 21 votes.</div>
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<b>EBONYI PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Egwu, Ogba, Ogbuoji pick Ebonyi PDP senate tickets</i></div>
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Former governor of the Ebonyi state, Dr Sam Egwu on Sunday emerged the PDP Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North Senatlrial zone.</div>
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He had  a total delegates votes of 194 to beat the former Minister of Power, Chief Goddy Ogbaga in the primaries conducted by the Chief Joseph Onwe faction of the party.</div>
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A former state Chairman of the party, Chief Obinna Ogba also emerged as the flag bearer of the party for Ebonyi Central senatorial zone.</div>
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For Ebonyi South, the incumbent Senator Sunny Ogbuoji emerged victorious.</div>
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Speaking after his declaration as the winner for Ebonyi North, Chief Sam Egwu thanked the delegates for voting him and assured the people of the Ebonyi North zone that he will not disappoint the zone if he eventually makes it to the senate.</div>
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The primaries  to elect candidates that will fly the party’s  ticket during the 2015 general election was peacefully conducted across the three zones of the state.</div>
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<b>Source: The Nation</b></div>
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Party Primaries: Govs Jonah Jang, Theodore Orji Win Tickets to Senate

The All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday held primaries to select candidates for the National...

David Mark, Godswill Akpabio, Buruji Kashamu, Others Win Tickets for National Assembly Seats

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkyf1-9IuCqS6k2jaeDQi_jTdvgnOqEoAAuzSCWiLRshE1Mh1qV44Zu8Hvkcw1VsXrAQMFp6JonEwuZoqowlax2ju-B2HeqK5f_CCkLOh5Pbro3b4R0nIgnJxxEJeUTM9FWf2z8t6liI/s1600/David-Mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkyf1-9IuCqS6k2jaeDQi_jTdvgnOqEoAAuzSCWiLRshE1Mh1qV44Zu8Hvkcw1VsXrAQMFp6JonEwuZoqowlax2ju-B2HeqK5f_CCkLOh5Pbro3b4R0nIgnJxxEJeUTM9FWf2z8t6liI/s1600/David-Mark.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>The All Progressive Congress</i> (APC) and <i>Peoples Democratic Party</i> (PDP) on Sunday held primaries to select candidates for the National Assembly seats. Our reporters  across the country report on the outcome of the elections.</div>
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<b>KADUNA PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Nenadi loses return bid, as Makarfi, Aruwa win PDP tickets</i></div>
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Serving Senator from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial district of Kaduna State, Esther Nenadi Usman has lost the bid to return to the National Assembly.</div>
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Senator Nenadi lost in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Senatorial primaries held at Kafanchan on Sunday.</div>
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Results from the area shows that Senator Nenadi lost the election to Dr. John Danjuma Laah who polled 129 votes as against Nenadi’s 123 votes.</div>
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The other aspirant in the race is Joseph Gumbari who had 70 votes.</div>
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Danjuma Laah is a traditional title holder, Shettima Kagoro and prominent business mogul in Southern Kaduna who has employed many youths.</div>
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Meanwhile, Senator Ahmed Makarfi representing Kaduna North Senatorial zone won the primary unopposed.</div>
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Senator Makarfi who is presently the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance is to face either Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed or Suleiman Hunkuyi of the All Progressive Congress.</div>
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In the Kaduna Central zone which is currently occupied by APC’s General Sani Saleh, a one time Senator, Ahmed Mukhtar Aruwa is to be the flag bearer of the PDP.</div>
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Aruwa who polled  156 votes defeated two other aspirants, Ahmadu Inuwa and Talatu Shehu who scored 113 and 28 votes respectively.</div>
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<b>EKITI PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Arise, two Senators defeated</i></div>
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Aspirants believed to be favoured by Governor Ayo Fayose won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives and senatorial primaries conducted at the weekend in Ekiti State.</div>
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At the Ekiti North senatorial primary election held in Ido-Ekiti on Sunday, former House of Representatives member, Mr. Duro Faseyi defeated former Senator Ayo Arise to win the ticket.</div>
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Faseyi who represented Ekiti North 2 Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber between 2003 and 2011 is an ally of Fayose.</div>
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Former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, won the Ekiti South  senatorial primary conducted in Ikere-Ekiti beating the former Senator who represented the zone between 2007 and 2011, Chief Sola Akinyede to the ticket.</div>
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Olujimi, who until recently, a board member of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) was deputy governor to Fayose between October 2005 and October 2006.</div>
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Another former House of Representatives member, Mrs. Fatimat Raji-Rasaki, beat former Senator Bode Ola and former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Obafemi Adewale to win the PDP senatorial ticket for Ekiti Central senatorial district at the primary held in Ado-Ekiti.</div>
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The result did not go down well with delegate from Ijero axis of the senatorial district who are pushing for Adewale’s candidacy since the area has not produced a senator since 1999 unlike Efon, Ado-Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ekiti West which had done so in the past.</div>
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All the three senatorial candidates of the PDP are allies of Fayose</div>
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This is the first time in the history of the state that a party would produce two female senatorial candidates.</div>
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In the House of Representatives primaries, aspirants enjoying the backing of Fayose swept to victory.</div>
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Those who won include three former council chairmen who served during Fayose’s first tenure in office.</div>
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They are former Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Chief Thaddeus Aina who clinched the PDP ticket for Ekiti North 2 Federal Constituency and former Chairman of Ikole Local Government, Mr. Kehinde Agboola who was declared winner of the ticket for Ekiti North 1 Federal Constituency.</div>
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Former Chairman of Gbonyin Local Government, Mr. Akin Awodumila, was returned winner of Ekiti South 2 Federal Constituency while Mr. Segun Adekola won in Ekiti South 1.</div>
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The result from Ekiti Central 1 returned Mr, Ayodeji Oladimeji as winner while to the PDP ticket for Ekiti Central 2 was one by Mr. Olamide Oni.</div>
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In reaction to his loss in the Ekiti North senatorial primary poll, Arise who is not in good terms with Fayose said he was worried about the turn of events in Ekiti PDP.</div>
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<b>BENUE PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Mark emerges PDP’s candidate for Benue South</i></div>
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Senate President David Mark is to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Benue South Senatorial race.</div>
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His emergency followed the withdrawal of his opponent, Chief Mike Onoja from  the race during the National Assembly primaries in the Senatorial District according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.</div>
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Mark polled 384 votes.</div>
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His only challenger, Chief  Onoja, had shortly before the commencement of voting exercise withdrew from the race citing, “interest and unity of the Idoma nation” as part of his reasons.</div>
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<b>OYO APC REPS</b></div>
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<i>Lam’s son in, Arisekola’s son out</i></div>
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Though the eldest son of a former Oyo State Governor, Alh. Lam Adesina, lost the governorship ticket to the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi, his younger brother, Adedapo Lam-Adesina, was among those who picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets for the House of Representatives in Sunday’s primary in Oyo State.</div>
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Adedapo, who is currently the Commissioner for the Ministry of Industry,  Applied Science and Technology in the state, defeated other aspirants to pick the ticket for Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency. He polled 449 out of the 610 votes cast.</div>
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The incumbent lawmaker representing Ibadan North West/South West Constituency, Hon. Saheed Fijabi also scored the highest votes to retain the ticket. He scored 180 votes to beat Kola Ajadi, who polled 179 votes.</div>
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But Umar Farouk, who is a son of the late business mogul, AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao lost to the incumbent, Hon. Abiodun Awoleye.</div>
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Awoleye polled 140 votes to beat Farouk who scored 114, ‎Idris Lapade, 73, Amoo, one vote, Adetona, two and Esan, six votes.</div>
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In Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency, a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Temitope Olatoye (aka Sugar) won the ticket unopposed. Mathew Abioye also picked the ticket in Surulere/Ogo Oluwa Constituency unopposed.</div>
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The current Commissioner for Environment and Habitat, Mr Jide Adewale won the Oluyole Federal Constituency ticket while Sunday Adepoju defeated others to pick the ticket for Iddo/Ibarapa East.</div>
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<b>AKWA IBOM PDP SENATE, REPS</b></div>
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<i>Akpabio wins Senatorial ticket</i></div>
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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has won the PDP ticket for the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district in the state.</div>
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With 423 votes, Akpabio floored two other opponents, Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo and Chief Inibehe Okorie who had none.</div>
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Incumbent Senator Etok withdrew from the race 30 minutes before the commencement of voting.</div>
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The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Sam Ikon, was among 10 aspirants chosen to fly the party’s flag in next year’s House of Representative election in the state.</div>
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In elections conducted in the 10 federal constituencies in the state delegates on Saturday, Mrs. Owodai Ekpotai also became the only woman to receive the party’s nomination as she beat others to clinch the ticket for Eket Federal Constituency.</div>
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Others who got the party’s nomination include Mr. Mike Eyong for Uyo, Nse Ekpeyong for Oron, Emmanuel Akpan for Ikot Ekpene and Dr. Henry Henry for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency.</div>
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Meanwhile, a parallel congress convened by some aggrieved PDP delegates from Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency has elected a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Patty  Ineme as the party’s candidate for next year’s House of Representatives election.</div>
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<b>OGUN PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Kashamu wins PDP ticket</i></div>
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Chairman, Organising and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu has emerged winner of their party’s Senate ticket for Ogun East.</div>
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In Ijebu Ode, venue of the PDP Senate primaries,  Kashamu contested against two other aspirants, Taiwo Akintan and Dayo Oriola,  while former governor Gbenga Daniel withdrew from the race earlier.</div>
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Kashamu polled 365 votes to clinch the ticket,  Oriola got four votes while Akintan scored zero vote.</div>
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But the primary for Ogun Central which was postponed till Tuesday following alleged violence at the venue, was later reportedly conducted on Saturday with wife of Chief Edwin Clark, Bisola Sodipo – Clark said to have won.</div>
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An official of the party however denied that the postponed primary held.</div>
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<i>No  Senate primary conducted for  Ogun Central – PDP</i></div>
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The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ogun State has said  that no primary has been conducted to pick its Senatorial candidate for the Ogun Central.</div>
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The party urged the public to discountenance  any information to the contrary.</div>
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The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Waliu Oladipupo, told The Nation that there is no winner yet as no primary has been conducted.</div>
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Oladipupo said primary was planned for Sunday but later postponed till Tuesday, this week, to ensure peaceful, free and fair exercise.</div>
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<b>NIGER PDP SENATE</b></div>
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<i>Kure, Aliyu and Agwara clinch Niger  PDP Senate tickets</i></div>
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Senate Committee Chairman on Maritime Transport, Senator Zaynab Abdulkadir Kure on Saturday defeated the immediate past state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abdulraham Enagi to clinch the party’s ticket for Niger South Senatorial district.</div>
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She won by 328 votes while Enagi had eight votes.</div>
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In Niger East Senatorial primary, the State governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu  emerged victorious. He defeated Alhaji Adamu Idris Kuta with 281 votes against 86 votes to emerge the party standard bearer for Niger East senatorial election in 2015.</div>
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‪The only candidate for Niger North senatorial zone, Honourable Halidu Agwara, a one time chairman, Agwara local government was returned unopposed.</div>
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<b>Source: The Nation</b></div>
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David Mark, Godswill Akpabio, Buruji Kashamu, Others Win Tickets for National Assembly Seats

The All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday held primaries to select candidates for the National ...

PDP Primaries: Confusion in Anambra As Aspirants Declare Selves Winners

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<i>SaharaReporters</i> has just gathered that the primaries schedule for today by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect the party’s candidate for the Anambra Central senatorial zone ended in chaos with different aspirants declaring victory for themselves.</div>
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SaharaReporters had reported a few days ago that many party members were aggrieved over reports that President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, had decided who they want to emerge as the party’s candidates in all the senatorial and House of Representatives primaries.</div>
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In Anambra Central zone, Mrs. Jonathan had told oil tycoon, Arthur Eze, that she wanted him to back Ms. Uche Ekwunife, a controversial former banker turned politician who recently defected from the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) to the PDP.</div>
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Some of the candidates told our correspondent today that the party never told them the venue for the primaries nor did the party release the names of voting delegates.</div>
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“We all paid N4.5 million to collect forms to run in the primaries. But the party that collected our money did not have the decency to tell us the venue for the primaries or the identity of those who are delegates,” one of the candidates told <i>SaharaReporters</i>.</div>
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Our correspondent learned that Ms. Ekwunife declared herself winner of a “primary” from which other aspirants were excluded.                                                </div>
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Another aspirant, Sylvester Okonkwo, organized his own “primary” at Emmaus Hotel in Awka and declared himself elected as the party’s candidate. Yet another candidate, Obiora Okonkwo, reportedly held his own “primary” at Choice Hotel in Awka and was “elected”.</div>
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A faction of the party controlled by controversial “godfather” Chris Uba is expected to arrange its own “primary” and declare former Senator Annie Okonkwo as the winner.</div>
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“This is a shameful day for Anambra State, for the PDP, and for Nigeria’s attempt at democracy,” one party member told <i>SaharaReporters</i>. “If our party continues in this way, then we are likely to lose the support of voters all over Anambra,” he added.</div>
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At a different location in the state, disgraced former minister of aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah was declared winner at the primary election held at Nteje in Anambra state. Ms. Oduah reportedly defeted Sam Ikefuna; John Emeka and Senator Margery Okadigbo with 259.</div>
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<i>SaharaReporters</i> was unable to reach Olisah Metuh at the PDP national office to seek clarification on why the primaries in Anambra were marked by chaos and confusion. </div>
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<b>Credit: SaharaReporters</b></div>

PDP Primaries: Confusion in Anambra As Aspirants Declare Selves Winners

SaharaReporters has just gathered that the primaries schedule for today by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect the party’s can...

Nigeria Releases Detained Russian Plane After France Admits Ownership of Cargo

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqb4U92e9WhNUgKT9qtd5mLwvVqN_rURE0YVUO82a329aFZiRQ22FA5tezS9sDn1lj-12fyad2s54gUmxFWVn00NLMDLGigVVF5251EV2FgaDCG7OrxH7H1c1PLNs9oiZBPC6DxxxaHM/s1600/Plane_Antonov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqb4U92e9WhNUgKT9qtd5mLwvVqN_rURE0YVUO82a329aFZiRQ22FA5tezS9sDn1lj-12fyad2s54gUmxFWVn00NLMDLGigVVF5251EV2FgaDCG7OrxH7H1c1PLNs9oiZBPC6DxxxaHM/s1600/Plane_Antonov.jpg" /></a></div>
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France has admitted ownership of the cargo plane that was impounded by military authorities at the Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, last Saturday.</div>
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It said that the flight was covered by a diplomatic clearance given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, noting that the Autonov 124 Russian commercial plane was forced to land at the Kano airport because of dense air traffic at Ndjamena Airport, Chad.</div>
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A statement from the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, on Sunday, stated that the Antonov plane had to divert to an alternate international airport and the  closest airport facility being Kano, the Russian crew decided to fly there, to refuel, and to take off again to reach Njamena Airport.</div>
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He denied that the plane was carrying arms and ammunition, stressing that it was conveying two light Gazelle helicopters, spare parts and maintenance items belonging to the French Army.</div>
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Labriolle further explained that due to the nationality of the aircraft, and the nature of the cargo, airport authorities in Kano, decided to check the flight plan, the clearance and the cargo manifest before authorizing the plane to leave.</div>
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He said that official information has been supplied by the French Embassy in Nigeria, noting that the federal and airport authorities, being satisfied with the documents and the genuine character of the flight, have announced that the plane will be authorized to pursue its flight to Ndjamena.</div>
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The envoy stated  that the French Armed Forces had on December 6, 2014, chartered the flight on the Russian commercial company “224 Flight Unit,” to ship two light helicopters from Bangui to Ndjamena.</div>
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<b>Credit: SaharaReporers</b></div>
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<b>Photo: Uba Dan Zainab</b></div>

Nigeria Releases Detained Russian Plane After France Admits Ownership of Cargo

France has admitted ownership of the cargo plane that was impounded by military authorities at the Aminu Kano International Airport (MA...

Photo: Gov Fayose, ex-Gov Fayemi Embrace at ex-Gov Segun Oni's Birthday

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Governor Fayose of Ekiti State and his immediate predecessor, Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday surprised many when they shook hands and embraced in public. The occasion was the 60th birthday of Segun Oni which held at the Methodist Church, Ifaki, Ekiti.</div>
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Both men, who sat together smiled as they exchanged pleasantries during the ceremony.</div>
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At the event, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, on Saturday alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party governments under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’Adua, and President Jonathan expended over $28bn on power without achieving any result.</div>
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Odigie-Oyegun also said 2015 was God’s appointed time for the opposition party to take over from the PDP. He and the Deputy National Chairman, South, Segun Oni, spoke during the event.</div>
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Oyegun, who restated that the PDP under President Goodluck Jonathan had brought untold hardship on Nigerians said despite spending $28bn, the government had failed to improve power supply.</div>
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He said, “APC is a party whose time has come. APC is a party with welfarist and people-oriented programmes.</div>
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“We won’t steal your money. Public money must be used for the benefit of the people. The level of corruption that exists today will cease when APC gains power.</div>
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“We would protect our citizens. The life of every Nigerian is worthy to preserve. Whatever that will take us to end insurgency, we are going to do it.</div>
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Oni thanked Governor Ayodele Fayose for restoring his privileges as a former governor of the state, describing him as a brother.</div>
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He debunked insinuations that there was political motive behind the gesture.</div>
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Buttressing the position canvassed by Oyegun, Oni said, “It is very clear anywhere in Nigeria that the APC is the government in waiting.</div>
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The APC would win hands down. I believe this is the ordination of God.”</div>

Photo: Gov Fayose, ex-Gov Fayemi Embrace at ex-Gov Segun Oni's Birthday

Governor Fayose of Ekiti State and his immediate predecessor, Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday surprised many when they shook hands and embra...

Tanzania's Idris Wins Big Brother Africa Hotshots

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyer4N12MC4-RF36zHLs3sj1Y8APr1KAJfIulSv1oMXBKh-M3RM3KLp6Q5bKAFmWRCuIdNmxMa6p6H3A4bZ50-IZQcvdKZB21pBNlLYwSVqSqcOi9-D23nTm7gE5e3uMG4DSHNYVa9XI/s1600/BBA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyer4N12MC4-RF36zHLs3sj1Y8APr1KAJfIulSv1oMXBKh-M3RM3KLp6Q5bKAFmWRCuIdNmxMa6p6H3A4bZ50-IZQcvdKZB21pBNlLYwSVqSqcOi9-D23nTm7gE5e3uMG4DSHNYVa9XI/s1600/BBA1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tanzanian housemate Idris just won the <i>2014 Big Brother Africa Hotshots</i> competition! </div>
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Idris gets to go home with the $300,000 (₦5.38 million or TSh52.20 million Tanzanian Shillings) prize money. Suddenly, the guy enters the millionaire league in Tanzania. Big congrats to him.</div>
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Nigeria's Tayo Faniran came second.</div>
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Tayo was one of the controversial housemates, often engaged in war of words with his fellow housemates.</div>
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His “realness,” however, made him a fans' favourite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HM5VNMMJ_V7HQg2pcLSnei-LIJq1mgxDqLJ-CrX9qsrpMb_fIdUnAGEaqQcGlP0cJ6K0vaZyh8l4q1j3D-t2yxuhGHa-8B4DVIMH3vNFKv0rsqTx6ierEbJNMiwAp_4VPFoUlq2s5hk/s1600/BBA2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HM5VNMMJ_V7HQg2pcLSnei-LIJq1mgxDqLJ-CrX9qsrpMb_fIdUnAGEaqQcGlP0cJ6K0vaZyh8l4q1j3D-t2yxuhGHa-8B4DVIMH3vNFKv0rsqTx6ierEbJNMiwAp_4VPFoUlq2s5hk/s1600/BBA2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tanzania's Idris Wins Big Brother Africa Hotshots

Tanzanian housemate Idris just won the 2014 Big Brother Africa Hotshots competition! Idris gets to go home with the $300,000 (₦5.3...

Photos: Plantashun Boiz Resurrects as 2face, Faze and Blackface Perform on Stage

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Call it a reunion of the the former <i>Plantashun Boiz</i> and you won't be wrong. </div>
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Venue was Landmark Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos and the event was the 2014 Hennessy Artistry Grand Finale held yesterday, December 7 where guests were delighted when <i>2face</i> (who performed first) invited his former band mates on stage for a joint performance. It was reminiscent of the <i>Plantashun Boiz</i> we all knew in those days.</div>
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Photos: Plantashun Boiz Resurrects as 2face, Faze and Blackface Perform on Stage

Call it a reunion of the the former Plantashun Boiz and you won't be wrong. Venue was Landmark Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos...

Read How President Jonathan Plans to Stop Impeachment Plot

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The Presidency and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party have adopted subtle ways to tackle the impeachment threats against President Goodluck Jonathan, <i>SUNDAY PUNCH</i> has learnt.</div>
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This is coming after some members of the two chambers of the National Assembly have reportedly been collating signatures to impeach the President.</div>
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A top Presidency source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent on Friday that Presdent Jonathan had started intervening in states where there were rifts among the major gladiators, especially state governors and their National Assembly members over party tickets.</div>
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The government official said the idea behind that move was that any lawmaker who was on the same page with the President and his or her governor would not be part of the impeachment move. He cited the example of the President’s intervention in the crisis in Cross River and Ondo states during the week.<br />
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The source said, “That you have not seen the President meeting PDP lawmakers since the impeachment moves started does not mean he is not doing anything about the development. We are adopting subtle strategies of resolving crisis in the states which will lead to further harmonious relationship with the Presidency.</div>
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“For instance, it will interest you to know that the President, the PDP national chairman, President of the Senate, Governor Lyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State; his predecessor, Donald Duke and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba met recently. That meeting was two-pronged: to resolve the crisis in the state chapter of the PDP and again stem the tide of impeachment.</div>
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“Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State also met with the President and stakeholders from his state chapter on Thursday. Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi also met with the President.</div>
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“All the meetings were aimed at resolving all crises and ensure that the party enters the election year united in all the states.”</div>
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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, had in a statement on the impeachment moves on Wednesday expressed the hope that all political matters would be resolved in the interest of democracy.</div>
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Okupe had told Senators behind the reported impeachment that there were issues of national importance that needed their attention other than moving against the President.</div>
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Meanwhile, members of minority political parties in the Senate on Friday dissociated themselves from the ongoing plans by some senators to move an impeachment motion against President Jonathan on December 16.</div>
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Senators on the platform of the Social Democratic Party and Accord Party, who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja, stated that they had not been contacted by the arrowheads of the plot and that they were ignorant of the phenomenon.</div>
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The only senator on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Senator Chris Anyanwu, and the three Labour Party senators, Messrs Boluwaji Kunlere, Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau), have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.</div>
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Speaking with our correspondent on the issue, Senators Olugbenga Obadara and Adegbenga Kaka, both of the Social Democratic Party from Ogun State, said they were not part of the impeachment moves, as nobody had informed them of the issue.</div>
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Kaka, who is the leader of the SDP caucus in the National Assembly, said, “Our party is not involved in the impeachment move against the President. What we are concerned about is to win the forthcoming general elections at all levels and ensure that leaders who will implement the SDP manifestos in the best interest of Nigerians emerge.</div>
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“As I am talking to you, nobody has spoken to me on the issue of impeachment. I am not part of it and I am sure none of my colleagues would want to be part of it. We would only be part of anything after due consultations with our constituencies”</div>
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Also, the only Accord Party member in the upper chamber, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, told our correspondent that he was not involved in the impeachment plot against Jonathan.</div>
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Similarly, Senators Ayogu Eze (PDP Enugu North) again, dismissed the threats by the anti-Jonathan senators to make the impeachment moves on the floor of the Senate on December 16.</div>
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<b>Source: Sunday Punch</b></div>
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<b>Photo Credit: UK Telegraph</b></div>

Read How President Jonathan Plans to Stop Impeachment Plot

The Presidency and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party have adopted subtle ways to tackle the impeachment threats against Pr...

Veteran Representative, Abike Dabiri, Bows Out of Reps Race After 12 Years

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHvuUgnGJNS4UH0dh55wm4EKFgifXqFV93J4EpB5k25C08rzMBsAdFW2JXWdj-pZLgf6lc3jCNojsQcYgE26QEyF5py8f895oDH75CNivX3P5NiAaBFg2vmQXYcnLmlB25w9nLZ4ThPI/s1600/Abike+Dabiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHvuUgnGJNS4UH0dh55wm4EKFgifXqFV93J4EpB5k25C08rzMBsAdFW2JXWdj-pZLgf6lc3jCNojsQcYgE26QEyF5py8f895oDH75CNivX3P5NiAaBFg2vmQXYcnLmlB25w9nLZ4ThPI/s1600/Abike+Dabiri.jpg" /></a></div>
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Report by <b>Victoria Ayuwei</b>, <i>Per Second News</i></div>
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After spending 12 productive years in the House of Representatives, Honourable Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa has decided to gracefully bow out, as she will not be returning to the House in the next dispensation.</div>
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The APC Rep decision comes just hours before the Lagos state primaries.</div>
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Dabiri-Erewa, 52, is a third term member of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly. This confers on her, the status of the most prominent female politician in Lagos State, and one of the most prominent politicians in Nigeria today.</div>
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According to close associates of the lawmaker, her decision to vacate the seat for other people to take the reins is to give other people the opportunity to serve as well.</div>
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“She has a distaste for political sit-tight syndrome", according to a source close to the lawmaker.</div>
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Meanwhile, a source in the Lagos APC said that she may have bowed to certain undisclosed pressure and jettisoned her political ambition by pulling out from the race for re-election.</div>
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Investigation by our correspondent revealed that a certain national leader of the party asked the lawmaker to forget about re-election as the state may not allow fair contest among the aspirants.</div>
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<i>Per Second News</i> gathered that the same leader also tried to stop her re-election in 2011 despite her stellar performance in the National Assembly.</div>
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The APC leader it was learnt, may have resolved to ensure that a consensus candidate is chosen for the position.</div>
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Speaking over the phone with <i>Per Second News</i> Saturday night, the National publicity secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he was unaware of the decision by Hon Dabiri-Erewa to bow out gracefully.</div>
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A firm believer in the importance of service to humanity, Dabiri-Erewa voluntarily retired from the services of the NTA to contest as a member of the House of Representative and swept the poll with a landslide victory in 2003. Ever since then, she has distinguished herself by working tirelessly. Dabiri-Erewa undertakes a lot of important bills, defends the interest of her party most vociferously and has a strong passion for service.</div>
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<b>Source: Osun Defender</b></div>

Veteran Representative, Abike Dabiri, Bows Out of Reps Race After 12 Years

Report by Victoria Ayuwei , Per Second News After spending 12 productive years in the House of Representatives, Honourable Abike Ka...