The Nigerian Red Cross (NRC) has appealed for blood donations for victims of the collapsed building on Lagos Island.

Mr Olakunle Lasisi, Secretary of NRC, Lagos made the appeal in an interview with NAN on Thursday in Lagos.


Speaking on the hashtags #DonateForItafaji and #savetheitafajichildren trending on social media, to solicit for blood donations from the public, he said Red Cross would partake in the exercise.

Lasisi added that he spoke with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service on Wednesday, and confirmed that the information was true.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/14/building-collapse-red-cross-others-appeal-for-blood-for-victims/

The elections of persons who will represent Nigerians across all 36 states of the country, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were conducted on Saturday, February 23.

Nigerians from across 774 local governments have selected 109 among them who will represent their interests and make laws on their behalf for the next four years.

A lot of these senators who will make up what will be the 9th Nigerian Senate were part of the 8th Nigerian Senate. But some of them will be new, fresh.

A lot of senators seeking reelection were voted out, a few of them major shocks, including Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Godswill Akpabio, the senator from Akwa Ibom North-West District who served as the minority leader in the 8th senate before decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC), also lost his seat.

The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who served in the Senate in 2007, also lost his bid to serve again.

Here is the list of those elected to serve in the 9th Nigerian Senate (the remaining names will be announced as the results pour in):

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/14/list-of-the-100-elected-nigerian-senators-as-confirmed-by-inec/

Oyo State Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, has raised the alarm that the outgoing state government has been moving Millions of Naira from the state coffers in the last 72 hours, after he defeated the APC candidate in last Saturday’s governorship election.

Prime Post has learnt that the allegation was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Makinde’s spokesman, Dotun Oyelade.

He claimed that credible sources within government said contracts were being used to take millions from government coffers with the connivance of a few civil servants.

Makinde said while he did not want a time-wasting probe as he had promised during his campaign, he would set a dateline upon all contracts awarded and payments made under suspicious circumstances by the current administration.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/13/oyo-gov-elect-seyi-makinde-raises-alarm-over-money-movement/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) says it has opened its portal for recruitment of fresh graduates and experienced professionals into the system.

Mr Ndu Ughamadu, its Group General Manager, (Public Affairs Division), confirmed this to the our source in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the portal for the recruitment was opened on Wednesday.

The recruitment portal address is https:/careers.nnpcgroup.com.

“The portal was opened today and I have received hundreds of inquiries weather it is correct or not.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/13/we-are-recruiting-nnpc-confirms/

President Muhammadu Buhari had met behind closed doors with seven state governors of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting came barely an hour after the president returned to Abuja after participating in Saturday’s Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.

Prime Post has learnt that the Governors at the meeting included Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdulaziz Yari, Zamfara State and Kassim Shetima of Borno.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/13/president-buhari-meets-apc-governors-at-aso-rock/

The Management of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria has opened Condolence Registers at their country offices in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu for the victims of the flight that crashed on March 10, six minutes after take off.

A statement by the airline on Tuesday said that the General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Firihiewot Mekonnen, received the first set of visitors at the office in Lagos.

It added that the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Mr Saleh Dunomah was received at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by the Airlines’ Sales and Traffic Manager, Abuja, Tilahun Tadesse.

Mekonnen thanked Nigerians for standing with Ethiopia and Ethiopian Airlines in this moment of grief.

“We thank the Nigerian President and the good people of Nigeria for the condolence message from the Government of Nigeria.

“We have always counted on Nigeria as an African Partner and Brother and this sad occasion once again proves the bond.

“We commiserate with Nigeria over the loss to humanity of the two great Nigerians on that flight.

“We have since reached out to the families involved because Ethiopian Airlines will not abandon its responsibilities to the victims,” she said.

Prime Post recalls that two Nigerians, Professor Pius Adesanmi and Ambassador Bashua Abiodun were among those involved in the crash.

Read more at:https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/13/air-crash-ethiopian-airlines-opens-condolence-registers-in-nigeria/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed March 23 for supplementary elections in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto where Saturday’s governorship poll was declared inconclusive.

The commission announced the development in a statement signed by Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), on Tuesday in Abuja.

Okoye said that the decision was taken by the commission in a meeting on Tuesday where it reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Constituencies elections.

He said that the elections held in 29 states for governorship and in 991 constituencies for House of Assembly.

“In all, the commission declared winners in the Governorship elections in 22 states.

“However, the Returning Officers in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto declared the Governorship elections inconclusive.

“Consequently, the commission will conduct supplementary elections on Saturday, March 23, to conclude the process.
“Supplementary elections will also hold in polling units in all states where State Assembly elections were declared inconclusive and winners could not be declared,” he said.

Okoye said that details of the constituencies, including number of polling units and registered voters, would be published on INEC’s website on Wednesday.

He explained that the elections were declared inconclusive for a combination of reasons.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/13/inconclusive-polls-inec-fixes-march-23-for-supplementary-polls-in-6-states/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared winners in 22 of the 29 states where the governorship election held on March 9.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has thirteen states ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has nine.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/12/full-list-of-governors-elect-so-far-pdp-13-apc-9/

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha is not listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission among the senators-elect that will receive their certificates of return on Thursday.

Prime Post recalls that Okorocha won in the February 23 Imo West senatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday revealed that the new senators would receive their certificates of return at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

On its website where the names of all the senators-elect were published, the commission claimed the winner of the Imo West Senatorial District election was announced under duress.

It, therefore, did not list anyone as the winner.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Francis Ibeawuchi, declared Okorocha as the winner of the poll, having polled 97,762 votes ahead of his closest rival, Mr Jones Onyereri of the Peoples Democratic Party, who had 68,117 votes.

However, both the PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance protested against the declaration of Okorocha as the winner of the election.

Ibeawuchi later claimed he was forced to declare Okorocha as the winner to save his life.

He said that he feared for his life and he was forced to announce the result of the poll, which he said was inconclusive, in favour of the governor.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/12/inec-omits-okorocha-from-senators-elect-list/

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he would want to be remembered as a leader who kept his word that elections in Nigeria must be free, fair and credible.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesperson in a statement in Abuja, said President Buhari made this known he received Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State at his private residence in Daura, Katsina State.

Masari was in Daura to formally inform the president of his election victory in March 9 Governorship poll.

President Buhari commended Nigerians who heeded to his pre-election appeal to cast their votes peacefully.

The President, who described the governorship and state assembly elections across the country as largely successful said: ‘‘I have maintained a position that elections must be free and fair and people have the right to make their choices and vote their conscience.

“I am happy they understood the message and did just that.

‘‘Power is a public trust that belongs to the people. Power is not by strength or wisdom but by Providence.

“Elected persons must be fair and just. This is the legacy I want to leave behind. A leader must be fair and just. All leaders should strive to do that,’’ he said.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/12/i-want-to-live-legacy-of-free-fair-elections-in-nigeria-says-president-buhari/

Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Monday lifted the restriction on vehicular and human movement placed on Oba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state.

Akeredolu had ordered the restriction in Oba-Akoko on Saturday evening due to the violence during Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

But Akeredolu lifted the restriction order after Oba Nurudeen Adegoroye, the Oloba of Akoko and his chiefs appealed to him in his office in Akure during a visit.

The governor, however, warned that the state government would not condone any act of criminality.

“You want to support your son or daughter, do so legitimately. If they win, fine. Don’t go and commit crime because of election.

“If there are other communities in the state who are dreaming of wanting to perpetuate any act of criminality, let them know we will be decisive.

“ Any purveyor of violence will be dealt with henceforth in this state,’’ he said.

Adegoroye, in a letter of apology, had expressed sadness over the incident that led to the restriction order.

He said the community was subjected to untold hardship and urged the governor to lift the suspension order.

“The truth is that Oba-Akoko has always been peaceful and law-abiding, but we are taken by surprise by this incident and we want you to know that we don’t condone such unrest.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/12/akeredolu-lifts-restriction-order-on-movement-in-ondo-community/

The Ogun Governor-elect, Mr Dapo Abiodun, says he bears no grudges against the outgoing governor of the state, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun.

Abiodun stated this on Monday during his victory speech at a news conference in Iperu.

He said that he took the position in spite of Amosun’s antagonism and hostility towards him in the build-up to the Saturday’s elections.

Abiodun, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the governorship election was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday.

Amosun, who is a leader of the APC in the state, rejected Abiodun after his (Abiodun)’s emergence as the party’s flag bearer from the election primaries conducted by representatives of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC)

Subsequently, the governor declared support for his anointed candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who later contested on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Having emerged winner of the polls, Abiodun, however, said he was not angry with the out-the governor, who is now a senator-elect.

He recalled that he neither uttered any negative words against him nor exhibited any form of anger towards him throughout the period of the campaigns.

“My desire and priority are to serve the people of Ogun sacrificially and this is what is uppermost in my heart.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/12/i-bear-no-grudges-against-amosun-says-ogun-governor-elect/

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will retire to Daura after he completes his second term in 2023, The Cable reports.

Prime Post reports that Daura, in Katsina state, is the president’s hometown.

He spoke on Tuesday while meeting with traditional rulers at the presidential villa in Abuja.

“This is my second and final term, at the end of which I will, God willing, go to Daura and settle down,” he said.

He asked traditional rulers in the country to support the anti-corruption war of his administration, using their vast knowledge and links to families in their communities.

He noted that as monarchs, they knew the families who harboured criminals and those who also had individuals with no tainted records.

“You know all the families who harbour criminals and you know those who produce respectable individuals,” he said.

“You know the weaknesses of our society. We need your support to consolidate our achievements”,

The rulers came to visit him under the aegis of the National Council of Traditional Rulers.
The council was led to the state house by Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, sultan of Sokoto.
The president seized the opportunity to speak on the efforts by the federal government to address national security challenges and stabilise the polity.

He said, “What we need now is your support. No government can serve creditably without your support. We will always count on your support.”

Speaking on their mission earlier, the sultan informed Buhari that they came to congratulate him on his re-election for another term.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/i-will-retire-to-daura-when-i-complete-this-second-term-in-2023-president-muhammadu-buhari/

Over 1,500 officials and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe on Tuesday defected to APC saying, they regretted voting Atiku Abubakar, PDP candidate in the presidential election.

The officials and their supporters announced their defection at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally in Fika, Fika Local Government Area of Yobe.

Alhaji Ahmadu Usman, spokesman of the defectors said they regretted being in PDP and voting Atiku Abubakar in the Feb. 23 election.

Similarly, 17 state and local government officials and their supporters from Machina and Yusufari Local Government Areas also defected from PDP to APC.

Alhaji Muazu Isa, PDP Vice-Chairman Zone C, led the defectors to pay allegiance to Alhaji MaiMala Buni, Yobe APC governorship candidate in Damaturu.

The defectors include Alhaji Sani Riga, State Financial Secretary Alhaji Kaumi Kaderi and Damiji Kalgiri, the Chairmen of the party inb Yusufari and Machina Local Government Areas.

Others are Ali Kakandi and Hajiya Kori Modu; Vice- Chairman and Women leader and 11 other ward officials in Yusufari Local Government Area.

The former PDP Zonal Vice-Chairman said, “We want to apologise for the mistake of being in PDP and voting for PDP, we will not carry this mistake to the governorship election.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/05/we-regret-voting-atiku-pdp-defectors/

Bureau de change operators and other suspects allegedly involved in the laundering of €150m (about $169 million) have told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission how Atiku Abubakar’s lawyer, Uyiekpen Osagie-Giwa, and the ex-Vice-President’s son-in-law, Abdullahi Babalele, used an offshore firm, Intels West Africa, and shell companies to launder millions of dollars, according to Punch.

Osagie-Giwa and Babalele, who have been arrested by the EFCC, allegedly attempted to use money to induce voters to vote Atiku, who represented the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 23 presidential poll.

Following an intelligence report that some certain politicians and their associates were attempting to convert huge foreign currencies into naira to influence the elections, the EFCC set up a special team to monitor the activities of bureau de change operators in the country.

According to reports, the team thereafter made contacts with major BDC companies and got information that $1.6m brought from Abuja had been given to a popular bureau de change operator on Lagos Island identified as Lawal Abdullahi of Three Brothers BDC for the purpose of converting same to naira.

Our correspondent learnt the EFCC officials arrested two BDC operators, Abdullahi Shehu, working with Abdullahi Munaciki of Hasbunallahu BDC, Abuja, and Lawal Abdullahi of Three Brothers.

It was learnt that the team recovered the said $1.6m, but $141,000 had already been exchanged, while the balance of $1.459,000 could not be exchanged due to naira scarcity in the market.

Further investigations regarding the ownership as well as the source of the money revealed that Hasbunallahu BDC, who is also the owner of Clean and Integrity Services, received three transfers amounting to $5m on February 1, 4 and 14, 2019 from Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited, an investment company being managed by Giwa-Osagie in trust.

READ ALSO Atiku’s decision on legal redress will improve electoral process – Group
The preliminary report of the investigation dated March 1, read, “On February 1, Abdullahi Munaciki received a transfer of $500,000 in his GTB dollar account named, Clean & Integrity Services Ltd., account number, 325/391103/2/1/0. The transfer came from Giwa-Osagie.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/report-atikus-lawyer-son-in-law-used-intels-west-africa-firms-to-launder-e150m/

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, adduced reasons why he applied for an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to surrender all the materials used for the February 23 presidential election, for inspection, according to Vanguard.

Atiku He said the request was to establish that the exercise was fraught with manifest irregularities, including multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers, saying he intends to engage forensic experts to analyse the election materials.

Consequently, he prayed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, for leave to be allowed to obtain some of the sensitive materials that INEC deployed for the presidential election.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has again assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari can’t Islamize Nigeria, according to Daily Post.

Osinbajo explained that he is a “born again Christian” and the Vice President, as such Buhari can’t Islamize the country.

Speaking during a Town Hall meeting in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday, Osinbajo disclosed that Buhari doesn’t interfere with the religions of those around him.

The Vice President maintained that Nigeria was too big for an individual to impose a religion against their wish.

According to Osinbajo: “One of the reasons our members have not benefited from most of our programmes is because the Government is not APC.

“Come Saturday by the grace of God, we shall change the present day government and enthrone APC through Uche Sampson Ogah.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/osinbajo-explains-why-buhari-cant-islamise-nigeria/

Bureau de change operators and other suspects allegedly involved in the laundering of €150m (about $169 million) have told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission how Atiku Abubakar’s lawyer, Uyiekpen Osagie-Giwa, and the ex-Vice-President’s son-in-law, Abdullahi Babalele, used an offshore firm, Intels West Africa, and shell companies to launder millions of dollars, according to Punch.

Osagie-Giwa and Babalele, who have been arrested by the EFCC, allegedly attempted to use money to induce voters to vote Atiku, who represented the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 23 presidential poll.

Following an intelligence report that some certain politicians and their associates were attempting to convert huge foreign currencies into naira to influence the elections, the EFCC set up a special team to monitor the activities of bureau de change operators in the country.

According to reports, the team thereafter made contacts with major BDC companies and got information that $1.6m brought from Abuja had been given to a popular bureau de change operator on Lagos Island identified as Lawal Abdullahi of Three Brothers BDC for the purpose of converting same to naira.

Our correspondent learnt the EFCC officials arrested two BDC operators, Abdullahi Shehu, working with Abdullahi Munaciki of Hasbunallahu BDC, Abuja, and Lawal Abdullahi of Three Brothers.

It was learnt that the team recovered the said $1.6m, but $141,000 had already been exchanged, while the balance of $1.459,000 could not be exchanged due to naira scarcity in the market.

Further investigations regarding the ownership as well as the source of the money revealed that Hasbunallahu BDC, who is also the owner of Clean and Integrity Services, received three transfers amounting to $5m on February 1, 4 and 14, 2019 from Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited, an investment company being managed by Giwa-Osagie in trust.

The preliminary report of the investigation dated March 1, read, “On February 1, Abdullahi Munaciki received a transfer of $500,000 in his GTB dollar account named, Clean & Integrity Services Ltd., account number, 325/391103/2/1/0. The transfer came from Giwa-Osagie.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/report-atikus-lawyer-son-in-law-used-intels-west-africa-firms-to-launder-e150m/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari administration was not borne out of hatred.

Obasanjo said he criticised the Buhari government because he is ‘his boss and has no personal beef with the president’
Obasanjo had responded to remarks by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Gbadebo, who advised him to stop attacking Buhari as he clocks 82.

The monarch had said that he was never comfortable whenever Obasanjo verbally attacked Buhari, urging him to stop.

Earlier in his goodwill message, Alake, who was a Principal Staff Officer to Major-General Tunde Idiagbon during the military administration of Muhammadu Buhari between 1983 and 1985, disclosed that he had always told Obasanjo to leave his boss alone.

But according to Obasanjo, he was “only criticising the programmes and policy of the present administration to ensure that things were done according to democratic norms.”

He stated this on Tuesday during an event to mark his 82nd birthday anniversary held at the Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Obasanjo was born on March 5, 1937.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/i-am-his-boss-obasanjo-reveals-why-he-wont-stop-criticizing-president-buhari/

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will retire to Daura after he completes his second term in 2023, The Cable reports.

Prime Post reports that Daura, in Katsina state, is the president’s hometown.

He spoke on Tuesday while meeting with traditional rulers at the presidential villa in Abuja.

“This is my second and final term, at the end of which I will, God willing, go to Daura and settle down,” he said.

He asked traditional rulers in the country to support the anti-corruption war of his administration, using their vast knowledge and links to families in their communities.

He noted that as monarchs, they knew the families who harboured criminals and those who also had individuals with no tainted records.

“You know all the families who harbour criminals and you know those who produce respectable individuals,” he said.

“You know the weaknesses of our society. We need your support to consolidate our achievements”,

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/i-will-retire-to-daura-when-i-complete-this-second-term-in-2023-president-muhammadu-buhari/

President Muhammadu Buhari has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as “a passionate and great patriot who deserves accolades for his immeasurable contributions to our democracy and national unity.”

In a statement to mark Obasanjo’s 82nd birthday, President Buhari acknowledged that “regardless of our political differences with Obasanjo, I still hold him in the highest esteem because his contributions to the development of the country overshadow those differences.”

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, quoted President Buhari as saying, “Chief Obasanjo gave a good account of himself and inspired his juniors with his wit and other leadership skills.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/buhari-felicitates-with-obasanjo-at-82-salutes-his-commitment-to-nigeria/

President Muhammadu Buhari had welcomed traditional rulers in the country to the “Next Level”, urging them to be prepared to play a crucial role in the prevention and detection of criminal activities in their domains.

The President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari made the call when he received members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at State House, Abuja.

The President noted that involving the royal fathers had become necessary in view of the deep knowledge of their localities.

“You know all the families who harbour criminals and you know those who produce respectable individuals. You know the weaknesses of our society.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/06/buhari-to-traditional-rulers-support-fight-against-criminality/

Many days after raging furore over the arrest of Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, who is the son-in-law to the defeated presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday owned up picking up the man.

The Commission while admitting for the first time that its operatives arrested Babalele, who is also the Finance Director of Atiku’s group of companies, justified the arrest of the man, saying that he was engaged in money laundering to the tune of€150 million.

The anti-graft agency did not however specify how the huge sum was laundered or where it originated and where it terminated.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/05/why-we-arrested-atikus-son-in-law-finance-director-efcc-speaks/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night hosted members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to a victory dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Those in attendance at the dinner included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, some cabinet ministers and presidential aides.

The president had on Feb. 27 hosted members of the PCC Situation Room to a similar victory dinner at the State House.

Senator Godswill Akpabio has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the election the day he left and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“My former party lost from the day I stepped out of it” Akpabio stated in a one-on-one interview with Channels Television‘s Seun Okinbaloye.
He said the PDP became lighter when the minority leader of the Senate moved to the ruling party. He said when he moved, he moved with thousands, hence depleting the PDP’s numbers and by extension its chances of winning the elections.

The former governor of Akwa Ibom however, noted that the PDP would not have been able to defeat President Buhari even if he was there because Nigerians wanted continuity. “I believe strongly that the President needed to be re-elected,” Akpabio said.

Speaking about his loss at the Senatorial polls following his defection to the APC, Akpabio said he was robbed. He said the results from Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District were mutilated in a bid to deprive him of his mandate.

Read more at: https://www.primepost.ng/2019/03/04/pdp-lost-presidential-election-the-day-i-left-the-party-senator-goodswill-akpabio-boasts/

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Jimi Agbaje, as politically naive and a learner.

The latest spat between the candidates started after Agbaje criticised the distribution of rice to civil servants during a recent visit of Sanwo-Olu to Alausa, Ikeja, the state secretariat.

The PDP candidate had said the gesture was aimed at manipulating the workers.

But the APC flag bearer, in a statement on Sunday, said Agbaje “left the substance for the chaff and sensational.”

Sanwo-Olu explained that the meeting with the civil servants was a continuation of his engagements with critical stakeholders, adding that Agbaje insulted the workers by implying that they could be easily manipulated with rice.

“It is unfortunate that Mr. Agbaje, who we strongly consider to be a learner in the art and science of politics, always misses the point. For Agbaje to describe our meeting with the public servants in the manner he did, shows his disdain for consultative politics and government. How politically naïve he is.

“Why will a governorship candidate not consider the civil servants who will help to execute all government policies, programmes and agenda as major stakeholders during his campaign? We cannot but accede to the fact that the PDP candidate is truly a learner.

READ ALSO Bauchi PDP Governorship candidate promises to improve teachers` welfare
“It is also an insult on the creme of public servants in Lagos State to be described as people that could be easily manipulated for electoral gains,” the APC candidate said.

The head of Sanwo-Olu media team, Gboyega Akosile, explained that the rowdy distribution of the rice to party members was “unintended.”

“It was handled by outsiders who hijacked the distribution without following established procedure for distribution,” he added.

Akosile said the PDP candidate resorted to fault-finding because he had nothing to campaign on.

APC’s woeful outing in Ajimobi’s expected stronghold has prompted protests from party leaders, with Bola Tinubu, the National leader, now personally overseeing the campaigns in a desperate bid to prevent a potential surrendering of the governorship to the PDP.

Abiola Ajimobi, the outgoing Governor of Oyo State, can no longer attend governorship campaign events of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Sahara Reporters says.

Prime Post recalls that Ajimobi lost his Oyo South Senatorial District bid to Dr. Kola Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 105,720 votes to Ajimobi’s 92,579 votes, meanwhile the other two senatorial slots were won by the APC.

To worsen matters, of the five federal constituencies in Ajimobi’s Oyo South, APC won only one, while PDP has already won three and is set to claim the fourth when the election is concluded this weekend.

APC’s woeful outing in Ajimobi’s expected stronghold has prompted protests from party leaders, with Bola Tinubu, the National leader, now personally overseeing the campaigns in a desperate bid to prevent a potential surrendering of the governorship to the PDP.

And one of what Tinubu has quickly done, apart from buying off Adebayo Alao-Akala’s candidature, is to ban Ajimobi from showing up at APC governorship campaign meetings involving Bayo Adelabu, the party’s candidate.

“The belief of Tinubu and other APC leaders is that it is Ajimobi that the people are angry with — not APC — therefore he should stay away from campaign activities,” an APC source very familiar with the development told Sahara Reporters.

“The fear is that Ajimobi’s appearance at Adelabu’s campaign rallies will be damaging for the party. In fact, there is a jingle of the party begging the people, explaining that Ajimobi, not the party, is the fall guy. Since the presidential and national assembly elections, Adelabu has been campaigning on his own — without the Governor’s involvement.”

In the said jingle, APC “begged” all indigene of the state in the name of God and in the names of prominent Yoruba sons such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor Bisi Akande and Tinubu.

The party also mentioned President Muhammadu Buhari and Adams Oshiomhole as begging the people, and specifically censured Ajimobi for his pride in disrespecting the Olubadan of Ibadan, among many other offences.

With Alao-Akala’s withdrawal for Adelabu, Tinubu has already gained inroad into Ogbomosho, where the party could not campaign ahead of the February 23 elections.