The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has close ties with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
PDP said such could cause bias in the petition it filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Diran Odeyemi, said this in a statement at the weekend.
It read, “The eldest son of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Abubakar Bulkachuwa, was until recently a governorship aspirant of the APC in Gombe State. Her husband was also known to be a foundation member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.
“We are worried that the sudden disbandment of the tribunal earlier set up by the President of the Court of Appeal might be due to the insistence of members of the disbanded panel to do justice in the petition without fear or favour.
“We equally have it on good authority that senior members of the APC and the Osun State Government have boasted in several quarters that the new panel chairman and members are recommended by governors elected on the platform of the party as those who would do the bidding of the APC.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, frowned at the disbanding of the panel by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachwa.
He alleged the APC had been mounting pressure on the judiciary to deny the PDP justice in the determination of the Osun governorship election dispute at the tribunal.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was involved in a furious touchline bust-up after Ross Barkley's 96th-minute equaliser rescued Chelsea's unbeaten Premier League start at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho's side looked on course for an outstanding win over his former club after two goals from Anthony Martial overturned the first-half lead given to the hosts by Antonio Rudiger's 21st-minute header.
He bowed his head in disappointment as Barkley scored in the dying seconds after a goalmouth scramble, but then reacted angrily as Chelsea technical assistant Marco Ianni celebrated in front of him before then pumping his fists in Mourinho's direction again.
The Portuguese jumped from his seat and was then held back by a mixture of stewards and Manchester United staff as he attempted to get down the tunnel at Ianni.
It was a dramatic conclusion as Mourinho saw victory snatched away after he had replied to the taunts of Chelsea fans by holding up three fingers to remind them of the three Premier League titles he won while in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues looked in control when Rudiger took advantage of Paul Pogba's poor marking to head home Willian's corner, but United responded superbly after the break and Martial's double - a smart, swivelling finish and a composed, low effort - put the visitors on the brink of three points until that frantic finale.
Manager Pep Guardiola praised his Manchester City side for their "beautiful, beautiful goals" as they remained top of the Premier League with a convincing win over Burnley.
Sparkling finishes from Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho and Riyad Mahrez, in particular, caught the eye as City maintained their 100% home record this season.
"After we scored the second goal and third quickly it was much easier," Guardiola said.
"The finish from Bernardo was not easy. The goals were so outstanding - beautiful, beautiful goals - and the chances we created, and it's three more points."
Guardiola's side were briefly knocked off the summit by Chelsea's draw with Manchester United earlier on Saturday, but opened up a two-point lead before Liverpool moved level on points with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in the late kick-off.
City's procession towards the three points was initially held up by Clarets keeper Joe Hart, making his first return to Etihad Stadium after ending his 12-year stay in the summer.
Hart, a huge crowd favourite during his spell at the club, made superb first-half stops to deny Sergio Aguero and David Silva, but was powerless to stop Aguero firing home as the duo combined to round off a neat passing move. Hart's afternoon was to get a lot worse.
Rafael Benitez said turning around Newcastle's fortunes will be the toughest challenge of his career after slipping to the bottom of the Premier League following defeat by Brighton.
The Magpies remain winless after a fifth straight home loss thanks to Brighton's Beram Kayal, who deflected in Jose Izquierdo's strike in the 29th minute.
The Seagulls lost leading scorer Glenn Murray, who was taken off after a sickening aerial collision in the ninth minute.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton later stated that the forward had been concussed but would leave hospital after having precautionary scans.
But it did not put the visitors off their stride in a match where they spent most of the time defending.
Benitez said the Magpies needed to be "more precise and clinical" after producing 27 shots on goal, with only six on target.
Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey went closest to scoring - first with a strike that was superbly blocked by Mat Ryan, then with a free-kick saved by the Australian with the help from his wall.
And despite saying he was confident he could turn things around, when asked if the current situation is the toughest he has faced, the Spaniard said: "Yes, at the moment, yes.
"I have had a lot of situations, but at the moment, obviously it's a difficult task."
The result means Newcastle are the fourth team in top-flight history to lose their first five home games of a season - the other three teams were relegated.
Everton scored twice in the last three minutes to snatch a dramatic victory over Crystal Palace in a tight Premier League game at Goodison Park.
Tactical changes by Toffees boss Marco Silva decided the game, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading in fellow substitute Ademola Lookman's cross.
Moments later, substitute Cenk Tosun fired in the second.
Earlier in the second half, Everton keeper Jordan Pickford saved Luka Milivojevic's penalty with his feet.
Everton's third victory in a row lifted them to eighth in the table, while Palace stay in 15th, two points above the relegation zone with only two wins this season.
Silva strikes gold with substitutes
For most of the afternoon a rather drab encounter looked destined to finish goalless as both sides struggled to create clear chances.
What swung the game in Everton's favour was Silva's decision to make a bold attacking double change, bringing on forwards Calvert-Lewin and Lookman with eight minutes left.
The home side effectively switched to a 4-2-4 formation, having earlier introduced striker Tosun for attacking midfielder Bernard.
Lookman clipped in a precise, curling ball from the left which was met by a Calvert-Lewin header from close range.
As Palace belatedly tried to respond, Tosun latched on to a long punt clear by defender Michael Keane to fire through Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey's legs one minute 44 seconds later.
"It came down to which manager was brave enough to make the big changes - and it was Marco Silva," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 live.
"Luck favoured the brave. I don't think you will see too many better substitutions this season."
This was the first time since August 2017 that three substitutes were directly involved in goals in a Premier League game.
Thierry Henry's first game as a manager ended in defeat as his Monaco side were beaten 2-1 at Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
Frenchman Henry, 41, saw his side go behind when goalkeeper Seydou Sy fumbled an Adrien Thomasson header.
It got worse for the visitors when Samuel Grandsir saw red for a high foot, before Strasbourg substitute Lebo Mothiba made it two for the home side.
Youri Tielemans' late penalty was only a consolation, with Monaco above bottom club Guingamp on goal difference.
Monaco, Ligue 1 title winners in 2017 under Henry's predecessor Leonardo Jardim, who was sacked on 11 October have failed to win in 11 games in all competitions since the opening weekend of the French top-flight season.
Their six-point tally from 10 games this season is also the club's worst start since the 1953-54 season.
The result sees Strasbourg rise to sixth in the table, with the principality side left to focus on Wednesday's Champions League group match at Club Brugge.
Former France and Arsenal star Henry, who began his playing career at Monaco and helped them win Ligue 1 in 1997, was assistant manager of Belgium before joining the eight-time French champions.
Jadon Sancho and Paco Alcacer continued their remarkable form with goals as unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund thrashed Stuttgart.
New England international Sancho, 18, scored with a deflected shot past Ron-Robert Zieler after just two minutes and 12 seconds.
Sancho, making only his second Bundesliga start of the season, has now scored twice and assisted eight goals in 11 games for Dortmund this season.
Marco Reus added a second and then Alcacer, on loan from Barcelona, chipped in his seventh goal in four league appearances - on his first start in the German top flight.
His opening six league goals had come in a combined 81 minutes across three substitute appearances - and he has also scored in one Champions League appearance for the club.
Those goals all came in the opening 25 minutes, with Maximilian Philipp adding a late fourth.
Dortmund have now scored four or more goals in four consecutive Bundesliga games.
Elsewhere, England Under-21 forward Reiss Nelson scored twice for Hoffenheim in a 3-1 win at Nuremberg. The 18-year-old has scored four goals in as many league games since his loan move from Arsenal.
Paris St-Germain handed out a 5-0 thrashing to Amiens as they extended their perfect Ligue 1 start with their 10th consecutive win of the season.
PSG are eight points clear at the top of the table, and did not even name Neymar in their squad.
Teenager Kylian Mbappe made it 11 goals in nine matches this season with the fourth of the night.
No team in French history has scored more goals after 10 matches than PSG's 37.
Saint-Etienne also hit 37 in the opening 10 matches of the 1969-70 season, when they went on to win the league by 11 points.
Even without Neymar, Thiago Silva and Thomas Meunier - who were rested with Wednesday's Champions League clash with Napoli in mind - PSG were far too strong.
Only one team has had a longer winning streak from the start of a season in one of Europe's top five leagues - Tottenham Hotspur in the English top flight in 1960-61 (11 matches from the start of the season).
PSG briefly went 11 points clear but second-placed Lille beat Dijon 2-1 later in the day to slightly reduce that gap.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score 400 goals in Europe's top five leagues as Juventus dropped points for the first time this season.
Ronaldo's fifth Serie A goal for Juve was added to his 84 Premier League strikes for Manchester United and 311 in La Liga for Real Madrid.
He tapped in after Joao Cancelo's shot was blocked - having earlier hit the post with a header.
But Daniel Bessa equalised with a header from Christian Kouame's cross.
Juventus defenders switched off for the goal, expecting the ball to drop for a corner - but Kouame kept it in and found an unmarked Bessa.
The hosts dominated most of the game, but of their 21 shots, only three were on target - all from Ronaldo, who had 11 efforts in total, in the first half.
Krzysztof Piatek's run of scoring in every game for Genoa since his summer move from Cracovia came to an end. The 23-year-old Poland striker had scored 13 goals in his first eight games.
Ronaldo's landmark puts him 10 goals above the second top scorer in Europe's main leagues, Lionel Messi - who scored his 390th La Liga goal for Barcelona in their 4-2 win against Sevilla.
Champions Juve had won their opening eight Serie A games and two Champions League fixtures. They are four points above second-placed Napoli - who beat Udinese 3-0 later on Saturday.
On Tuesday, they visit Manchester United in the Champions League (20:00 BST).
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich ended their four-game winless run with victory at Wolfsburg - although they had Arjen Robben sent off.
Lewandowski put Bayern ahead and then doubled their lead early in the second half after taking advantage of some terrible defending.
Robben was dismissed for two bookings, and Wout Weghorst then pulled one back.
But Lewandowski set up James Rodriguez to seal the victory.
On Friday, Bayern accused the media of "disrespect" and of breaking the German constitution with recent criticism in an extraordinary news conference.
Lionel Messi will miss El Clasico after being ruled out for three weeks with a fractured arm as Barcelona beat Sevilla 4-2 to go top of La Liga.
The Argentine was left writhing in agony after landing heavily on his right arm after colliding with Franco Vazquez.
He was still in obvious discomfort as he left the field in the 26th minute.
Just moments earlier the Barcelona captain had scored a sublime goal to put Barcelona 2-0 up.
Messi had also set up Philippe Coutinho for the opener on two minutes.
Barcelona confirmed after the game that the 31-year-old suffered a "fracture of the radial bone in his right arm" and is set to miss the Champions League tie against Inter Milan in midweek and the clash with Real Madrid next Sunday.
Despite the injury to Messi, Barcelona extended their lead in the second half through a Luis Suarez penalty.
Pablo Sarabia's deflected long-range effort brought Sevilla back into the game before Barcelona had goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for a wonderful double stop to deny first Sarabia and then Wissam Ben Yedder.
Ivan Rakitic's fine volley made it 4-1 and although substitute Luis Muriel curled home an impressive effort of his own, Barcelona held on to secure their first win in five La Liga matches.
The result also puts them one point clear of Alaves at the top of the table before next week's huge game at the Nou Camp against rivals Real.
Paris St-Germain handed out a 5-0 thrashing to Amiens as they extended their perfect Ligue 1 start with their 10th consecutive win of the season.
PSG are eight points clear at the top of the table, and did not even name Neymar in their squad.
Teenager Kylian Mbappe made it 11 goals in nine matches this season with the fourth of the night.
No team in French history has scored more goals after 10 matches than PSG's 37.
Saint-Etienne also hit 37 in the opening 10 matches of the 1969-70 season, when they went on to win the league by 11 points.
Even without Neymar, Thiago Silva and Thomas Meunier - who were rested with Wednesday's Champions League clash with Napoli in mind - PSG were far too strong.
Only one team has had a longer winning streak from the start of a season in one of Europe's top five leagues - Tottenham Hotspur in the English top flight in 1960-61 (11 matches from the start of the season).
PSG briefly went 11 points clear but second-placed Lille beat Dijon 2-1 later in the day to slightly reduce that gap.
Real Madrid suffered their fourth loss in five games and set an unwanted record with a defeat by Levante at the Bernabeu.
The result put further pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui, whose side remain fifth in La Liga, three points behind leaders Alaves and a point behind Barcelona, who have yet to play.
"Right now that is the last thing that I'm thinking about," said Lopetegui when asked if he was worried about losing his job.
"I feel more encouraged than ever to continue because the team gave their heart and soul on the pitch. Sooner or later we will come out of this.
"The dressing room was sad but the players are keen to lift themselves up and look to the next game. The players gave everything and we will get out of this situation."
Lopetegui's side were stung twice inside 13 minutes when first Jose Luis Morales and then Roger Marti, from the spot, scored.
Real produced several great chances, with the woodwork and great saves from Oier Olazabal coming to the rescue for the visitors.
The final line of defence was finally breached in the 72nd minute when Marcelo fired a rocket past the Levante stopper - that ended a run of 482 minutes of scoring, although it came 17 minutes too late to prevent them from breaking the mark set back in 1985.
Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno backed lopetegui in the lead-up to the match, but with an important game in the Champions League coming up and El Clasico next weekend, there could be renewed pressure for the Los Blancos chiefs to act.
Mid-table Levante seemed the perfect opponent to face, but with a front-line led by the precocious Jose Luis Morales, the visitors had no intention of playing for a draw.
They attacked from the first whistle and took the lead with only six minutes on the clock. Morales kept his eyes on Sergio Postigo's long ball, as Raphael Varane failed to, took the ball around keeper Thibaut Courtois and slotted in.
It was soon 2-0. Frenchman Varane was at fault again, when he handled inside the area. The referee initially gave a free-kick before VAR ruled the defender had handled in the area. Marti fired in the penalty to leave the home support stunned and Lopetegui crestfallen.
VAR also ruled out goals scored by Real's Marco Asensio and Mariano.
And when Levante's attack was not causing problems for Real, their keeper Oier was frustrating them at the other end.
Oier, who conceded nine goals playing for Granada at the Bernabeu in 2015, pushed a Casemiro header on to the bar, blocked Lucas Vasquez's point-blank shot with his foot and pushed away Gareth Bale's free-kick.
Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry has retired from football.
Terry, 37, has been without a club since leaving Championship side Aston Villa in the summer.
The defender made the announcement on his Instagram account, saying: "After 23 incredible years as a footballer, I have decided now is the right time for me to retire from playing."
Terry, who won 78 England caps, left Chelsea in 2017 after 19 seasons at the London club.
He won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, a Champions League title and the Europa League in his time at Stamford Bridge.
A former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has congratulated former vice president Atiku Abubakar who on Sunday morning won the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Jonathan described Mr Abubakar as a man who has the capacity to take the country to greater heights.
“I congratulate His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, and by the grace of God and the votes of Nigerians, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our party members have spoken and have nominated you as the candidate for the forthcoming Presidential elections. I am convinced that you have all it takes to take Nigeria to greater heights and transform her into a hub for prosperity and happiness,” he said.
Like Mr Jonathan, other Nigerians have also been reacting to Mr Abubakar’s emergence as the PDP candidate.
Mr Abubakar defeated 11 other aspirants at the opposition party’s convention held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Saturday and Sunday.
The former vice president scored 1,532 votes, more than double that scored by his closest challenger, Aminu Tambuwal, who had 693 votes. Senate President Bukola Saraki came third with 317 votes.
Some of Mr Abubakar’s challengers have conceded defeat and congratulated him as well.
With 90 percent of votes counted and sorting of ballots continues, THISDAY Newspaper can comfortably project that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has won the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party.
From the votes collated so far, Atiku is leading the other contestants. Other contestants in the race are Senate President Bukola Saraki, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Senator Jonah Jang, Senator David Mark, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Dr. Ahmed Datti, former Governor Sule Lamido, and Mr. Taminu
Earlier on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress was endorsed by 14.8 million members of the party at APC’s national convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
Though candidates of several other parties also emerged at the weekend, being the leading opposition party, it is expected that February 2019 presidential election will be a straight contest between the candidate of the PDP Atiku and President Buhari.
Real Madrid extended their winless run to four games as Manu Garcia's late goal secured a shock win for Alaves.
Garcia headed the winner in the fifth minute of added time to clinch Alaves' first La Liga victory over Real since 1931.
The win moves Alaves joint-top of the table alongside La Liga giants Real and Barcelona.
Julen Lopetegui's side have now lost three times in four matches without scoring.
Lopetegui, who was sacked by Spain on the eve of this summer's World Cup, had called for a response to Tuesday's Champions League defeat at CSKA Moscow and was rewarded with a bright, entertaining start.
But his side faded as the game wore on and a fourth match without scoring will be of real concern.
It is six hours and 49 minutes since Real last hit the back of the net, stretching back to 22 September when Marco Asensio scored a 41st minute winner against Espanyol.
In that time they have been beaten 3-0 by Sevilla and drawn 0-0 against Atletico Madrid, before Wednesday's loss in Moscow.
With Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer at the club, two of the pillars so crucial to their recent success have been removed and the former Porto boss has so far failed to show he can find a solution.
While much of the attention will be on Real Madrid, hosts Alaves deserve credit for a battling display that puts them joint top of the table.
They had goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco to thank in the opening stages as he denied Karim Benzema and Dani Ceballos.
But after weathering the Real Madrid storm, Alaves grew into the game and more than matched their illustrious opponents.
The visitors struggled to clear many clear-cut openings after the break and as the game wore on they left themselves vulnerable to the sucker punch.
That proved to be the case as Garcia snatched the winner from close range after Ruben Sobrino's initial effort was well saved by Thibaut Courtois.
That was pretty much the last kick of the game, with the final whistle sparking scenes of jubilation inside the Mendizorrotza Stadium as Alaves secured a historic victory.
Barcelona can restore their three point lead the top of the table with a win against Valencia on Sunday (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant goal as Juventus maintained their 100% winning start by beating Udinese.
It comes during a week in which the Portugal forward "firmly" denied rape allegations.
Rodrigo Bentancur had headed in the opener for Serie A champions Juve, while Antonin Barak struck the foot of the post for the home side.
Udinese goalkeeper Simone Scuffet made a series of saves, the best of which was to keep out Joao Cancelo's effort.
The victory means Massimiliano Allegri's Juve side have eight wins out of eight in the league this season.
Ronaldo returned to the starting line-up after missing the 3-0 Champions League win over Young Boys in midweek through suspension.
He was heavily involved in his side's attacking play, and had headed one chance over the bar before netting Juventus' second goal with a crisp finish into the far corner from Mario Mandzukic's lay off.
In the second half, he had two low strikes kept out by the excellent Scuffet, who also dived sharply low to his right to deny Federico Bernardeschi after the substitute was set up by Ronaldo.
Juve are back in action after the international break at home to Genoa.
Manchester United fought back from two down to beat Newcastle and avert a defeat that would have cranked up the pressure on manager Jose Mourinho.
The hosts conceded twice in a lacklustre first 10 minutes, with Kenedy and Yoshinori Muto breezing in to score.
United briefly roused themselves with Marcus Rashford heading wide from five yards, but also needed David de Gea's excellence to deny Muto his second and a potentially decisive third for the Magpies.
The hosts departed at the break to jeers - some of which were aimed at the club's owner and executives, rather than the manager.
But by the final whistle, it was the name of Mourinho that rang around Old Trafford.
The Portuguese, who brought Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini off the bench in pursuit of victory, saw his side reenergised after the break, when two of his three substitutes found the net.
As Newcastle dropped deeper, Mata swept home a free-kick with 20 minutes left to trigger an onslaught on the visiting goal.
Martial curled home six minutes later from Paul Pogba's pass and, after goalkeeper Martin Dubravka pawed away Chris Smalling's effort, Sanchez delivered the winner in the last minute of normal time, heading in Ashley Young's cross.
According to one report on Saturday, the club hierarchy had decided before this game to get rid of Mourinho regardless of today's result.
BBC Sport's understanding is that Mourinho, in fact.
Their faith might have been tested by an astonishing opening.
As chief executive Ed Woodward watched on grim-faced in the stands, United's defence crumbled, conceding twice in the initial 10 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time.
First, a lunging Nemanja Matic failed to intercept in midfield before Young tamely allowed Kenedy to turn on to his favoured left foot and fire in.
Three minutes later, the hosts were either too uncertain or unwilling to close down Jonjo Shelvey, allowing him to sweep into the heart of the box, where Muto easily turned Young and buried Newcastle's second.
Mourinho, who had joked with former Chelsea charge Kenedy in the tunnel and playfully squirted a water bottle at a television camera before kick-off, appeared far less jovial by then.
As he gesticulated wildly on the sideline, his players looked at each other in apparent shock.
President Donald Trump's controversial nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, has been sworn in following weeks of rancorous debate.
The Senate earlier backed his nomination by 50 votes to 48.
Mr Kavanaugh had been embroiled in a bitter battle to stave off claims of sexual assault, which he denies.
But after an 11th-hour investigation by the FBI into the allegation enough wavering senators decided to support the nomination.
His confirmation hands Mr Trump a political victory ahead of key mid-term elections in November.
Before the vote, hundreds of people protested against Mr Kavanaugh's nomination at the US Capitol in Washington.
During the vote, other protesters shouted "shame" from the public gallery and Vice-President Mike Pence had to call for order to be restored.
Mr Kavanaugh's appointment is for life and he will strengthen conservative control of the nine-judge court, which has the final say on US law.
The 53 year old was sworn in on Saturday evening in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the constitutional oath and retired justice Anthony Kennedy - whom Mr Kavanaugh is replacing - administered the judicial oath.
Protesters had gathered outside the court and at one point some ran up the steps and banged on its ornate doors. Other demonstrators climbed on the nearby statue of justice.
Barely 12 hours after her husband received the party's ticket as its presidential candidate for the 2019 general election, Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has taken to Twitter to express her displeasure with the national leadership of the APC.
She also said she would not "hesitate" to "dissociate [herself] from such unfairness".
It is not exactly clear what her grouse with the APC is, as she didn't expressly state it, but her anger may be connected to the emergence of Jibrilla Bindo, Governor of Adamawa State, as the preferred candidate for the Adamawa governorship ticket.
Bindo was announced winner of the governorship primary on Sunday, after defeating Nuhu Ribadu, and Aisha Buhari's brother, Dr. Mahmood Halilu, in a landslide victory.
However, hours after her brother's loss of the governorship ticket was announced, her Twitter account came alive with posts berating the national leadership of the APC under the watch of Adams Oshiomhole, describing whatever grievance she alluded to as "impunity".
The post read: "It is disheartening to note that some aspirants used their hard earned money to purchase nomination forms, got screened, cleared and campaigned vigorously yet found their names omitted on Election Day, these forms were bought at exorbitant prices.
"Many others contested and yet had their result delayed. Fully knowing that AUTOMATIC tickets have been given to other people.
"All Progressives Congress being a party whose cardinal principle is change and headed by a comrade/activist whose main concern is for the common man, yet, such impunity could take place under its watch. Given this development one will not hesitate than DISSOCIATE from such unfairness, be neutral and speak for the voiceless.
"It is important for the populace to rise against impunity and for voters to demand from aspirants to be committed to the provision of basic amenities such as: 1. Potable drinking water 2. Basic health care ( Primary Health Care centers).
Jose Mourinho and Manchester United were saved their blushes on Sunday as they came from two goals down to beat Newcastle United 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Amid speculations that Mourinho was on the verge of losing his job, United made a horrific start as goals from Kenedy on seven minutes and Yoshinori Muto three minutes later put the visitors two goals clear.
After witnessing one of the worst first-half performances at Old Trafford in recent history, Mourinho was forced to tweak his side – and that decision paid off.
Juan Mata netted a beautiful free-kick on 70 minutes and Anthony Martial levelled matters on the 76th minute, after a lovely move involving Pogba.
With the clock ticking down, substitute Sanchez made the winning contribution as he nodded home from Ashley Young’s cross in the final minute of normal time to seal a dramatic three points for United – and perhaps save the job of their manager.
However, for Super Eagles stars that would be heading to Nigeria for the AFCON qualifying matches against Libya, they had it rough on Saturday; losing their home games in a disappointing fashion.
The duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi were in action for Leicester City but they were beaten 2-1 by visiting Everton.
It was worse for Isaac Success’ Watford as they were humiliated 4-0 by AFC Bournemouth at the Vicarage Road.
Success is one of the 24 players invited by Coach Gernot Rohr for the upcoming games against Libya in Uyo and Sfax, Tunisia.
A senator, Gbenga Ashafa, has lost his bid to return to the Senate for a third term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
The 63 year-old senator lost by a wide margin at the primary for the Lagos East ticket to a four-term House of Assembly member, Bayo Osinowo, according to the results announced Saturday by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Electoral Committee of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries in Lagos.
Mr Ashafa was expected to run unopposed in the primary as Mr Osinowo was not originally cleared by the National Working Committee of the APC to stand in the election. It was not clear when the NWC gave Mr Osinowo the nod to run for the seat.
As far as the Ashafa Support Group is concerned, the result may be a nullity as Mr Ashafa only went into the primary for affirmation. In other words, he ran against himself.
“Hon. Bayo did not scale through the screening of the party and so could not contest an election. Senator Gbenga Ashafa only came out to be affirmed by his constituents,” the group tweeted on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the primaries, including a repeat of the senatorial primary election, were held on Friday.
The senatorial primaries initially held on Thursday, but were cancelled and rescheduled owing to logistic issues.
A former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2019 general election.
Mr Duke governed Cross River between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He defected from the PDP to pursue his presidential ambition.
At the primary on Saturday, Mr Duke polled 812 votes to defeat his close rival, former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, who polled 611 votes at the party’s National Convention held at Old Parade Ground, Abuja.
The Convention Returning Officer, Abdul Isiaq, declaring the results of the presidential primary election at the early hour of Sunday, said John Dara, former Special Assistant to Theophilus Danjuma, former defence minister, scored 104 votes.
He also announced that former ambassador and former minister, Iyorwuese Hagher, polled 72 votes; former ambassador, Felix Osakwe scored 10 votes, while the number of invalid votes was 63.
Mr Duke in his acceptance speech, described his emergence as a collective victory for all aspirants that participated in the contest, as well for the party and the nation.
He said the primary was just a step in the contest, saying he will go through the nation to campaign and sell the party and it’s polices to citizens.
Mr Duke called for the support of all aspirants, the party officials and Nigerians to win 2019 general election, saying “we will reawaken in Nigerians that yearning that we are destined to be, but we cannot do this alone.”
He said that Nigeria was not a divided nation but a country of common purpose.
Adams Oshiomhole: We are set to engage PDP on issue-based campaign
Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, has said that with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 election, it is set to especially, engage the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on issue-based campaign.
Oshiomhole stated this in his address of welcome at the party’s National Presidential Convention, which ended in the early hours of Sunday.
President Buhari pulled a total of 14,842,072 votes at the party’s recent presidential primaries held across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as announced by Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor-elect.
Fayemi, who was the Chairman, APC Presidential Primary Committee, later asked the no fewer than. 7,00 delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to affirm the president’s candidacy through a yes vote, and they did affirm the candidacy.
Aside the statuary delegates, the delegates who were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were made up of three from each Local Government Area.
They were elected at the party’s State Congresses held earlier in the year.
Oshiomhole maintained that with President Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate, it was now ready for the 2019 election, adding that the president had given a good account of himself as a leader who led by example.
He added that unlike some political parties in the past, the APC decided to elect President Buhari as its presidential candidate for the 2019 presidential election using the direct primary mode to give all party members a say.
Oshiomhole said, ”unlike the other party which printed only one presidential form and came up with 2 million signatures from unverified individuals in 2015, the APC chose a more democratic process, using the direct primary method which gave all registered party members a true sense of participation”.
He said that the APC would scrutinise the records of whoever the opposition party, especially the PDP, brought up as its presidential candidate for the 2019 election.
This, he said, would be done with a view to bringing their past deeds to the public to enable them to make good choice.
“The other party is choosing its candidate in Port-Harcourt, we will look at the records of the opponent, we will look at his pedigree, we will challenge them on their track records,” he said.
The national chairman, however, dismissed claims by members of the opposition PDP that the Federal Government was being selective in its anti-graft war.
He also said that the complaints by opposition figures that the President Buhari-led administration was being heavy-handed should be ignored.
According to him,the present government was being too mild compared to past administration which he said always harassed and intimidated those in the opposition, saying that he was a victim of such harassment.
“As a sitting governor then, I was denied the use of a public airport.
”Mr President, sometimes I feel you are too mild. I was under threat of impeachment, I had to remove the roof of my State House of Assembly in order to survive.
“One of your predecessors used seven people to remove a sitting Governor. I am, however, not in anyway suggesting that you do the same,” Oshiomhole said.
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party, who were fortunate to be delegates at the party’s national convention which held in Port Harcourt on Saturday, have described the exercise as worthy.
This is because they were said to have received thousands of dollars as bribes from some presidential aspirants.
As early as Saturday morning, some of the delegates said they already had up to $9,000 each while they said that they were still expecting more.
The aspirants who are taking part in the primary are a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; a former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.
Others are the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki; a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jona Jang.
Also in the race are, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed.
A particular aspirant, who had taken part in a presidential primary before, was said to have first offered the delegates $2,500 each in exchange for votes.
But when he heard that another aspirant offered the delegates $3000, he increased his own to $4000.
Our correspondent however gathered that the first aspirant later offered same amount of $4000, and action that forced the man who offered $4000 to increase his own to $5000.
Another aspirant was also said to have offered a mere $1000.
It was also learnt that some aspirants gave out naira to the delegates, while a source said states with large delegates got N50m, while others with fewer delegates got less.
However, investigations by our correspondents also revealed that other aspirants had also offered unspecified amount of money to the delegates.
Two delegates from the North-West, who spoke with our correspondents on condition of anonymity, confirmed they received cash.
One of them, who showed our correspondent the envelope that contained the dollar bills, said they decided to receive the gratification as a means of getting their share of the ‘national cake’
He said, “We are not going to sell our conscience because of the money. In fact, we saw it as an opportunity to collect what belong to us from these men.
Another delegate from the South-East, who also confirmed that he collected money even wished that the exercise could be called off and another one organise to enable him to make more money.
Tambuwal, Atiku, Saraki divide PDP leaders
Meanwhile, three notable presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Saturday night, divided the ranks of the leaders of the party on who should be supported among them to fly the party’s flag in the February 14 presidential election.
The aspirants are the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.
The leaders of the party had earlier met with all the aspirants at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, where the need for some of them to step down was discussed.
Among the aspirants seen at the hotel were Tambuwal, Saraki, and a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang.
Other aspirants were said to have been part of the meeting which was also attended by majority of the 14 PDP governors, except the governors of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi.
Both Okowa and Umahi are holding critical positions in the electoral committee.
While Okowa is the chairman of the Special National Convention Committee, Umahi is the secretary.
A source close to the party said both men were excused in order not to affect the credibility of the outcome of the convention before Nigerians and the aspirants.
It was gathered that majority of the party leaders, former presidents and some retired generals were routing for Tambuwal.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives was considered based on his age, his reach and acceptability even beyond the PDP.
He is also said to be enjoying the support of some of the notable traditional rulers across the country.
Atiku, on the other hand, was also said to have the backing of some members of the party’s Boards of Trustees and some former governors.
Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, was also believed to have the backing of some senators and a few governors.
All the aspirants were said to consider themselves as having the ability, if backed by the party leaders, to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
A source, who was at one of the meetings said that the trio of Tambuwal, Atiku and Saraki were said to have the highest support of the delegates and leaders of the party.
It was however not clear whether the support of the delegates has anything to do with the inducement by any of the aspirants.
As of the time of filing this report, all the aspirants and the leaders of the party were still meeting at an undisclosed location in Port Harcourt to resolve the logjam.
A source, who was privy to the meeting, said, “I think leaders of the party do not want to be surprised at the convention ground. They want to know and be sure that the candidate that will emerge is known before getting to the stadium.
“This is to avoid rancour and acrimony that may work against the party during the general elections.
Supporters of the nine aggrieved governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State defied the heavy rainfall, which lasted for several hours, to protest outcome of the just concluded governorship primaries in the state.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions such as, “No to political thuggery, Baba Buhari Save Taraba, Taraba APC Chairman Must Go, We Say No To Impunity, We Want Fair Play,” among others, the protesters called for immediate disqualification of the state’s former Acting Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Danladi Sani, who emerged the party’s flag bearer.
Citing his ongoing case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the “irregularities” during the primaries, they believed the party’s dream of winning the next government in the state under Danladi would be a mirage.
Led by Prince Banire Abdulahi, the protesters said reports that emanated from various collating officers across the wards and local governments is an indication that election was not conducted in the state.
He called on the National Working Committee to intervene by disqualifying the winner for a fresh conduct of the exercise.
