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APC Presidential Primary: Voting Exercise Suspended Over Rigging Allegation As Sanwo-Olu, Amaechi others engage in heated arguments

Voting exercise at the ongoing National Convention of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja to elect the presidential candidate of the party has been suspended.

The suspension was announced at exactly 03:15am after former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, stormed the voting area and complained bitterly to electoral officers manning the polling votes about irregularities.

Consequently, Atiku Bagudu, the Kebbi State Governor, who doubled as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, made the announcement directing the halt to the voting exercise while tasking the security agents to clear the voting arena.

He further directed that only security agents and agents of aspirants, who should be two each, be allowed around the voting corridor after a proper clearance has been made.

Despite the announcement, arguments persisted as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambblazzau and former Senator from Lagos State, Ganiyu Solomon engaged in heated argument over the development.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, later joined them to calm the situation for voting to resume.

This was as delegates and supporters of one of the aspirants, Dave Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State, accused the electoral officers of manipulation.

They accused the officers of speaking South Western dialect and directing those voting on what to write.

Delegates were asked to simply write the name of the aspirant they want, forcing some who are not schooled enough to require help.

It was in that process that accusations and counter accusations of rigging began, thereby forcing a halt to the voting exercise.

As at 3:34 am when this report was filed, voting has not resumed.

APC Primary: Tinubu Raises Alarm Over Viral Text Message Being Sent To Delegates On Alleged Muslim-Muslim Ticket Plans

A presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has disowned a viral text message alleging that he plans to pick a fellow Muslim as his running mate if he emerges as the ruling party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

Tinubu said the text message is being circulated to delegates while the APC presidential primary election is ongoing.

According o him, the ‘fake’ text message was fashioned by “undemocratic elements” whom he said are already intimidated by his “imminent victory” at the poll.

A statement issued by his media office on Tuesday midnight reads: “We have been informed of a text message going round APC delegates at Eagle Square, Abuja purportedly from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming that with his imminent victory at the APC Presidential Primary and emergence as the party’s presidential candidate, the APC leader has now decided on a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“This is nothing but a lie. It has no basis whatsoever. We enjoin the distinguished delegates to ignore this completely.
“The fake text message is a ploy by some undemocratic elements to confuse and hoodwink delegates sensing that Asíwájú Tinubu is comfortably coasting home to victory.

“Truth is Asíwájú is destined for victory and no one can scuttle this through their shameful tactics.

“Asíwájú is not known to jumping guns. He will deal with all important matters pertaining to his presidential pair at the appropriate time, after his victory has been fully established by the distinguished delegates.”

At least seven aspirants have so far stepped down and backed Tinubu to pick the APC presidential ticket.

No fewer than fourteen governors are also said to be rooting for the Tinubu for the 2023 presidency.

THE WHISTLER, however, reported earlier that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo refused to imitate other southern leaders who have withdrawn from the race to support his former boss and political godfather.

Osinbajo had told delegates at the Eagle Square venue of the presidential primary that “You cannot wish this country well and vote for someone you don’t believe in.”

BREAKING: South-West Delegates Block VP Osinbajo From Meeting Delegates At Convention Ground

Delegates from the South West have chased Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from the convention ground on Tuesday evening.

The vice president arrived exactly 19:25 pm and started to greet the delegates when the delegates from the South West came together to block him from having any access to delegates.

They booed and called him unprintable names with some calling him “betrayer, enemy’” and assuring him that he would lose the primary election.

The crowd soon went wild calling Bola Tinubu’s name , beating drums and dancing.

Tinubu, who is APC national leader, is gunning for the party’s presidential ticket.

Osinbajo, who was a commissioner under the Tinubu administration in Lagos, is also an aspirant for the APC ticket.

The Vice President had attempted to walk the convention ground to greet delegates who were already seated but could not pass as the first set of delegates comprising mostly Lagos delegates left their seat to block his path.

Attempts to walk through to the Ogun State stand to greet the delegates were rebuffed, forcing his security details to usher the Vice President to the State Box.

Pictorial: Osinbajo-Themed Popcorn, Ice-cream Stand Sighted At Primary Venue

The Osinbajo-themed popcorn and ice-cream stands have been spotted at the venue of the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja.
This is coming days after a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima in an interview with Channels TV said the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo is a good man who should be selling popcorn and ice cream.

He further stated that Osinbajo who is nice can not make good leaders, because nice men tend to be nasty.

Shettima in his statement said, “Osinbajo is a good man; he’s a nice man. But nice men do not make good leaders, because nice men tend to be nasty. Nice men should be selling popcorn, and ice cream.”

He, however, apologised after much criticism for liking the Vice President to a popcorn and ice-cream seller.

The supporters of the Vice President on Tuesday set up popcorn and ice cream stands at the convention grounds with inscriptions such as “Osinbajo popcorn; serving goodness to all Nigerians, Osinbajo ice cream”.

Osinbajo is hoping to clinch the presidential ticket of the ruling party with a plan to continue the agenda of the current administration of which he is part.

Okada Riders Clash With Task Force In Lagos

Some commercial motorcyclists have reportedly clashed with the security agents attached to the Lagos State Joint Task Force enforcing ban on okada in some local government areas of the state.

It was gathered that some okada riders at the Idi Araba area of Lagos engaged the armed security men in a clash while making attempt to prevent the seizure of their motorcycles.

The recalcitrant riders reportedly made bone fires on the road and some of them were said to be armed with clubs and some dangerous weapons while trying to stop the security agents.

The state government had since June 1 banned okada operations in
Apapa, Eti Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Surulere and Lagos Mainland local government areas.

Thousands of motorcycles have been seized and destroyed by the task force before today.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, however denied reports that riders fought security personnel.

The PPRO said, “The task force went for the operations well prepared. They (riders) were just causing a scene after task force left with some of their impounded motorcycles.”

Hundeyin said the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and men from the Area Command have been drafted to the scene. He added that there was nothing to worry about while urging residents to go about their businesses.

EFCC Operatives Storm APC Primary Election Venue

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrived at Eagle Square, the venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential primary.
Naija News reports that the EFCC operatives arrived the Eagle Square around 3:30pm and were seen monitoring members of the ruling party.

The anti-graft agency officials are at the APC presidential primary to curb incidents of delegates inducement, vote-buying and other electoral or financial fraud activities that may take place.

Recall that the EFCC officials were also at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which took place last month at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

BREAKING: S/West Leaders Mount Pressure On Osinbajo To Step Down For Tinubu As Fayemi May Drop For VP

Last minute consultations are still ongoing to reduce the number of aspirants contesting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket.

Naija News reports that northern APC governors had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to select one out of five names given to him as the party’s consensus presidential candidate.

The five aspirants are Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, David Umahi, Kayode Fayemi and Yemi Osinbajo.

Of the five aspirants, Osinbajo, Tinubu and Fayemi are all from the South-West.

According to Vanguard, South-West leaders including traditional rulers are said to be pressuring Osinbajo to step down for Asiwaju Tinubu.

It was also gathered that there are also moves to get Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to step down for Osinbajo.

Fayemi, the current chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, is said to be banking on the support of his brother governors in the APC to grab the party’s ticket.

However, some governors reportedly eyeing the vice presidential slot have already thrown their weights behind Tinubu and Osinbajo.

Sources said the South-West leaders want one candidate from the zone hence the pressure on Osinbajo and Fayemi to step down for Tinubu.

A top party leader said: “A lot of meetings are going on. If the meetings yield result only two aspirants will remain and the primaries will not take long to conclude.”

Sources close Tinubu said the former Lagos Governor is not ready to step down for any aspirant, including the VP.

“If there is going to be a consensus, he said he is the consensus candidate otherwise let’s go for primaries,” a member of the Tinubu Campaign also disclosed.

IPOB Reveals Those Allegedly Behind Deadly Owo Massacre

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused Fulani terrorists of attacking worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

In a statement, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, urged Christians to take their safety and security personally and stop depending on the Nigerian Government.

The statement by Powerful reads partly: “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn the Fulani terrorist’s attack on Catholic Church in Owo Ogun state today been Sunday 5th of June 2022.

“IPOB had repeatedly suggested that Christians should stop their dependence on the Government of Nigeria for the security of life and properties; the reason is that the current regime has only one interest and that is Fulani’s interest. Fulani terrorists masquerading as politicians and security agents are the ones heading Nigeria Army, Police and other security agencies and are responsible for the recruitment of terrorists who were massacring innocent Christians, Muslims and Non-Muslims.

“We are equally advising the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to stop condemning attacks from these terrorists from the Sahel or praying for God’s intervention and start acting in defence of Christians in Nigeria. “CONDEMN” do not raise people from graves; therefore, we suggest again to the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN that the only remedy is to be prepared to withstand the terrorists and jihadists who were sponsored by unfortunate politicians and the Government of Nigeria to eliminate every citizen in the country.”

Plastic Surgery: Nkechi Blessing Reveals Reason Women Work On Their Bodies

Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing has said that most ladies do not undergo plastic surgery to please men.
The controversial actress explained via a post on her Insta Stories that some ladies do it to feel confident about their bodies while others want to look good in bikinis.

This is coming after the death of a popular influencer Christabel, who allegedly lost her life after undergoing a cosmetic surgery in Lagos, Nigeria.

Presidential Primaries: APC Begins Accreditation Of Delegates

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun the accreditation of delegates for the Special Convention and Presidential primary election.

Naija News reports that the accreditation process is ongoing at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

It was learned that the delegates were driven into the accreditation centre in designated buses to kick start the electioneering process to produce the party’s presidential candidate.

The Accreditation Committee is also ready to begin the screening of delegates across the country who will vote for the party’s standard-bearer in the 2023 general elections.

The major contenders for the APC presidential ticket are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.