Missing Nigerian Doctor Fehintola Omidele Found Alive

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib18liBlEcEQLED7k5mtuyPqqOr_3RRbXxecx338iajhsNduBSLGlUbqqMlK5xsKhyphenhyphenGxz4vXEJWRpGpQ2Hz235R1ODePSTVq8bzVfAkVm4aDmaBfFYTxlkeLzN2ZCtABmx70MiTA2cofM/s1600/Omidele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib18liBlEcEQLED7k5mtuyPqqOr_3RRbXxecx338iajhsNduBSLGlUbqqMlK5xsKhyphenhyphenGxz4vXEJWRpGpQ2Hz235R1ODePSTVq8bzVfAkVm4aDmaBfFYTxlkeLzN2ZCtABmx70MiTA2cofM/s1600/Omidele.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There are still no details how she ended up in El Campo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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...

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Bankole Not Governorship Aspirant - Ogun PDP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb6pGbnHzr2aLoza-08kA0HNMs0GRUHqmTBR7v9iRW3salCwQGGJjAH6sAa2v6HyUZHph7rhyphenhyphenTNGsHuD4_V_oFB8JupHlRabHs2wRO0c8yHIepFyVsqgzsguBmbaciw41PjjWLxQLewY/s1600/Bankole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb6pGbnHzr2aLoza-08kA0HNMs0GRUHqmTBR7v9iRW3salCwQGGJjAH6sAa2v6HyUZHph7rhyphenhyphenTNGsHuD4_V_oFB8JupHlRabHs2wRO0c8yHIepFyVsqgzsguBmbaciw41PjjWLxQLewY/s1600/Bankole.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Report by <b>Olayinka Olukoya</b>, <i>Nigerian Tribune</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “ 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nigerian Tribune could not get the reaction of the former speaker, as calls put through to him were not going through.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <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 (...

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Lagos PDP Crisis Deepens As Governorship Primary Election Holds Today

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIJYAuIk58_BRdOnqnrUvXYSis8hICJAVUhboBo8GFeOLyZmmQ2sX6Vc_PfbFs5839FFIALTojx5KlbyVNUKMoPE_F9mN6u_H8drt8TSZU3WbOJn87Fc1u2tQF7jZa-VxQL5jEt8co4E/s1600/Agbaje-Bode-George-and-Obanikoro-360x177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIJYAuIk58_BRdOnqnrUvXYSis8hICJAVUhboBo8GFeOLyZmmQ2sX6Vc_PfbFs5839FFIALTojx5KlbyVNUKMoPE_F9mN6u_H8drt8TSZU3WbOJn87Fc1u2tQF7jZa-VxQL5jEt8co4E/s1600/Agbaje-Bode-George-and-Obanikoro-360x177.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Report by <b>Eniola Akinkuotu</b>, <i>The Punch</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The decision of the APC became a reference point for the PDP and Agbaje was favoured.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As campaigns continued, Agbaje and Obanikoro continued to fire indirect shots at each other.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Agbaje told the delegates that selecting a dictator as the candidate of the party would be like handing the governorship to the APC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <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 ...

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

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Fiv-_8v4hHkmIDs7Fb4lUp-zkN8Nx7pzlbFUtosnxq14PCkY-NTp2IJVu7NLV-vgnSt0mFFkqrdMudSTCBpf92fVYCLGgdd7mpzb74-tb5mUsXD9uOOLgAAjcfvyxxpciIFHvDuUkI/s1600/Ndoma-Egba-David-Mark-and-Uche-Chukwumerije-360x240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Fiv-_8v4hHkmIDs7Fb4lUp-zkN8Nx7pzlbFUtosnxq14PCkY-NTp2IJVu7NLV-vgnSt0mFFkqrdMudSTCBpf92fVYCLGgdd7mpzb74-tb5mUsXD9uOOLgAAjcfvyxxpciIFHvDuUkI/s1600/Ndoma-Egba-David-Mark-and-Uche-Chukwumerije-360x240.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation committee of the PDP in the South-West, Buruji Kashamu, however, won in the Ogun East Senatorial District.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Violence rocks PDP, APC primaries in Ogun</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There were pockets of crises during   the PDP senatorial   and All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primaries in various parts of the state.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation committee of the PDP in the South-West, Buruji Kashamu, however, won in the Ogun East Senatorial District.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Kashamu defeated Mrs Temidayo Oriola and Daisi Akintan.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In Ogun-West, Waliu Taiwo emerged winner with 191 votes, having defeated four other contestants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to the state secretary of PDP, Mr. Semiu Sodipo, the two contestants were ‘uncooperative.’</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “There was tension among the delegates of the two contestants and so we had to postpone the primary till Tuesday.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The APC House of Representatives primaries in the state were marred with violence in some centres.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As of press time, many of the APC primaries had   yet to be concluded.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The APC spokesman in the state, Sola Lawal, did not pick his telephone when one of our correspondents called him.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Lagos</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In Lagos-West senatorial district,   Mr. Segun Adewale (aka Aeroland), clinched the   ticket by defeating Moshood Salvador.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In Lagos-East, Mrs. Olabisi Owolabi-Salis, beat Gbenga Osinowo to win the primary election.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He was defeated by Enitan Badru.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Taiwo Adenekan won in the Ajeromi federal constituency.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Abiodun Faleke, who currently represents the Ikeja Federal Constituency will again fly the party’s flag in the February poll.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Ondo</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The son of a former Governor of Ondo State, Gboyega Adefarati,, was among the losers in the contest for APC ticket.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Adefarati lost the Akoko South West/East to Babatunde Kolawole, while Friday Olemija won in the Akoko North East/West.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, emerged the candidate   after defeating Benson Enikuomehin.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Also, in Akure South/North, a former state House of Assembly lawmaker, Afe Olowookere,   defeated his closest rival,   Shaka Yusuf.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In Ondo West/East, there was a consensus arrangement among the party delegates.   Dele Olanubi emerged as the candidate.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Abia</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The state governor, Theodore Orji and incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe won in Umuahia Central and Abia South respectively.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Orji who was the sole aspirant in his senatorial district scored 221 out of the total 222 vote cast.   One vote was voided.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Abaribe scored 169 votes to defeat Chief Onyekachi Oje, who   got only two votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Four incumbent members of the House of Representatives lost their bids to return to the House while four others won.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Bayelsa</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Paulker polled 174 votes against Austin Febo, who scored 17 votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a parallel primaries conducted by a faction of the party, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, was declared winner after polling 93 votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Cross River</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Owan-Enoh polled 217 votes to defeat Ndoma-Egba and Ambassador Mark Egbe, who secured 37 and 20 votes respectively.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The atmosphere was tense at the Ikom Local Government Area secretariat where   security personnel almost outnumbered the delegates.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Enugu</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, was returned unopposed in   Enugu-West.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This followed the withdrawal of Governor Sullivan Chime from the race.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ekweremadu received 294 votes out of the 299 cast. The remaining five votes were rendered invalid as a result of irregularities.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The story was however different in Enugu North and Enugu West Senatorial districts where parallel primaries were held.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Nasarawa</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The serving senator representing Nasarawa South senatorial district ,   Suleiman Adokwe, won his bid to fly the party’s flag.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Adokwe defeated Bala Zakari by scoring 163 votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/primaries-chukwumerije-ndoma-egba-lose-mark-wins/">The Punch</a></b></div> <div> <br /></div>

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...

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Obanikoro Not a Saleable Candidate - Ogunlewe

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He, therefore, urged delegates to vote for the person that could deliver Lagos to the PDP.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ogunlewe said this during an interview with our correspondent on Sunday.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, Obanikoro said he was confident of winning the primary even though the party leaders were against him.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Obanikoro said all he needed was a transparent, free and fair primary, expressing the confidence that he will win the primary.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said as one who came from a humble background, “I know that all power comes from God.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <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...

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

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcKBapijdCnFLkggBYKU1hP_qoJTJJyvPEacIiZZXM3wVRTqMeWxxByPDmN1F6lZFbeSp0ElRnXwpGX0jqiOR-l0qXNfrVEgAWRbSrSnRCweKWtOVKw0oWFvxNy9krWSybo-9jr4GTkY/s1600/Theodore+Orji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcKBapijdCnFLkggBYKU1hP_qoJTJJyvPEacIiZZXM3wVRTqMeWxxByPDmN1F6lZFbeSp0ElRnXwpGX0jqiOR-l0qXNfrVEgAWRbSrSnRCweKWtOVKw0oWFvxNy9krWSybo-9jr4GTkY/s1600/Theodore+Orji.jpg" /></a></div> <i style="text-align: justify;"><br /></i> <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 /> <span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>KWARA PDP SENATE</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Ex-Rep member, Saraki’s aide, emerge Kwara PDP candidates</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Yinusa Yahaya has emerged the Kwara North Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>PLATEAU PDP SENATE</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Jang, Dariye emerge winners</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang has won the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) ticket for Plateau North Senatorial primaries held on Sunday.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Gov Jang polled 273 votes to defeat his closest and only opponent, Ambassador Ibrahim Kassai who had  18 votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In Plateau Central Senatorial Zone, incumbent Senator Joshua Dariye got the majority votes from the 262 .</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dariye polled 104, Hon Emmanuel Goar had  46 votes, Alexander Molwus, 84 votes and Satti Gogwim 12 votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>KWARA APC REPS</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Kwara Speaker, ex-minister, others emerge as APC Reps candidates</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ‪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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Atunwa and Adedoyin are to represent Asa/Ilorin West and Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero in Kwara state.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>EDO APC REPS , PDP SENATE</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Ex-NLC VP wins APC Rep ticket , Senator looses seat</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Edo Central was  successfully conducted on Sunday across the district.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Irabor Onikolease, a former Vice President of the NLC won  the Esan North East/ Esan South East Federal Constituency.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He defeated the state commissioner of Energy and Water Resources, Mr Chris Ebare to clench the ticket.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Senate Vice Chairman on Commerce, Mr Odion Ugbesia on Sunday lost his bid to return to the senate.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ugbesia who is the senator representing Edo Central lost to his opponent, Mr Cliffors Ordia by 141 votes to 62 votes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ugbesia who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been a senator since 2007</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>ABIA PDP SENATE</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Orji, Abaribe, Ohuabunwa emerge winners</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Abia state Governor , Chief Theodore Orji has won PDP Senatorial ticket for Abia Central.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Senator Enyii Abaribe and Mao Ohuabunwa also won the tickets for Abia South and Abia North respectively.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>EBONYI PDP SENATE</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Egwu, Ogba, Ogbuoji pick Ebonyi PDP senate tickets</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Former governor of the Ebonyi state, Dr Sam Egwu on Sunday emerged the PDP Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North Senatlrial zone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For Ebonyi South, the incumbent Senator Sunny Ogbuoji emerged victorious.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 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> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Source: The Nation</b></div> <span style="text-align: justify;"></span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

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...

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