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Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo visits and tours Kaduna central market for the assessment of Trader_Moni scheme, a Federal Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-osinbajo-tours-kaduna-central-market/

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Okechukwu Osadebe, 18-year-old son of late highlife maestro, Chief Stephen Osadebe, has lost his life in a flood disaster in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the younger Osadebe died on Thursday Sept. 27 in the Osadebe’s Atani country home in Ogbaru when he was swept away by the flood at about 7:30pm.

The death of Osadebe brings to four the number of lives so far lost to flood disaster in Anambra in the last one week.

Mrs Amaechi Osadebe, mother of the deceased, told NAN in Atani on Friday that Okechukwu was returning home with two other persons when flash flood overwhelmed them.

She explained that it was due to high current and turbulence of the water wave that made it difficult for the other two young boys to pull him out of the water.

Mr Arinzechukwu Awogu, the Transition Chairman of Ogbaru, who visited the family, described the death as a tragedy to the whole Ogbaru community.

Awogu said he came to commiserate with the family as it was very painful to loss a child at such tender age, regretting that the floods had brought unimaginable loss to the entire Local Government.

He, however, called on the people of the area to take extra precautions to avoid further loss of life.

“As we wait for the water to recede, my advice is that everybody, especially the underage, should be very careful when they go closer to the areas already submerged,’’ he said.

http://www.metronaija.ng/flood-kills-late-music-maestro-osadebes-son-in-anambra-2/

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See more at http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-aregbesola-and-gboyega-oyetola-observe-jumat-service/

More at http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-aregbesola-and-gboyega-oyetola-observe-jumat-service/

Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (Governor-Elect Osun) observes Jummat Service at the Osogbo Central Mosque, Oja Oba.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-aregbesola-and-gboyega-oyetola-observe-jumat-service/

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PDP Heads to Court over Osun Guber. The PDP is heading to the court to quash the illegal declaration of the September 22, 2018 Osun governorship election as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

http://www.metronaija.ng/pdp-heads-to-court-over-osun-guber/

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, being cheered by supporters, during the 31st Anniversary celebration of the creation of Akwa Ibom State in Uyo today.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-saraki-at-31st-anniversary-celebration-of-akwa-ibom/

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Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai paid a visit to President Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-coas-buratai-visits-buhari/

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Kano state Governor Umar Ganduje and Former High Commissioner to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro attended friday prayers at Afonta Central Mosque in Osogbo today. A Osun ma sai Ganduje.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-ganduje-and-obanikoro-at-jumat-service-in-osogbo/

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Governor Nasir Ahmad El Rufai has arrived Osogbo, in support of Gboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, ahead of tomorrow’s Gubernatorial Election in Osun State. He was pictured with Osun state Governor Aregbesola and minister of information, Lai Mohammed during Jumat service in Osogbo.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-el-rufai-lai-mohammed-and-aregbesola-at-jumat-service/

More at http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-aregbesola-gives-car-and-other-gifts-to-teachers/

Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola attends the State Primary Education Board in Conjunction with the Office of the Head of Service to the Omoluabi Award Scheme to Honour Distinguished Teachers in both Elementary and Middle Schools Across the State.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-aregbesola-gives-car-and-other-gifts-to-teachers/

Sokoto state Governor Tambuwal met with PDP delegates and stakeholders in Oyo state .

http://www.metronaija.ng/photo-tambuwal-meets-pdp-delegates-in-oyo/

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Edo State Deputy-Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu visiting Flood ravaged communities in Etsako Central LGA, Edo State, Nigeria.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-edo-deputy-governor-visits-flooded-communities-by-canoe/

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More at http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-saraki-campaigns-for-adeleke-in-osun/

All PDP delegates and stakeholders pictured as they campaign for the Osun state PDP Gubernatorial candidate, Senator Adeleke in Osun today for this Saturday election in Osun state.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-saraki-campaigns-for-adeleke-in-osun/

The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Working Committee (NWC) has released a reviewed timetable for the conduct of its primary elections.

APC had earlier fixed September 20 for the party’s presidential primaries, while appeals that may arise from the conduct were to be heard on September 22.

The party had also scheduled September 25 for governorship primaries, while September 26 to 27 were fixed for the hearing of appeals that may arise from the conduct.


September 28 to 30 was earlier fixed for the hearing of appeals that may arise from all legislative primaries, and the national convention was to hold on October 6 to ratify the party’s candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

But the new timetable released on Wednesday by the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Emma Ibediro, Esq, disclosed that the Presidential primary election has now been fixed for September 25.

The new schedule stated that the “governorship primary election will now hold on September 29, while the Senate primary elections will hold on October 2.


“October 3 will witness the House of Representatives primary elections, while October 4 will be for state houses of assembly primary elections

“The national convention (presidential) will hold on October 6 to bring the curtain down on the party’s internal processes for selecting its candidates for the 2019 general election.

“THE NEW TIMETABLE
September 25 — presidential primary election

“September 29 — Governorship primary election

“October 2 — Senate primary elections

“October 3 — House of Representatives primary elections

“October 4 — State House of Assembly primary elections

“October 6 — National Convention (presidential)”

http://www.metronaija.ng/apc-release-new-timetable-for-primaries-national-convention/

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Rep. Umar Bago (APC-Chanchaga) says he will support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger with 100 cars.

Bago, who stated this on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, said that the two leaders remained the only credible choices in the 2019 elections.

He urged the electorate to vote for continuity in order to consolidate on the ongoing changes that would set the Nation on the path of progress.

“President Buhari has proved beyond reasonable doubt to be honest, sincere and committed to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians irrespective of political, tribal and religious differences.


“I am supporting the re-election campaign team of President Buhari and that of Gov. Abubakar Bello with 100 cars for massive sensitisation of the people of Niger,” he said.

The lawmaker said the vehicles would be distributed at a grand rally tagged, “Niger Na Buhari Da LoLo Ne” in Minna.

Bago said that the vehicles would be given to officials of the APC and other organisations to disseminate the numerous achievements recorded by Buhari and Bello.

He said in the more than three years of the APC administration, the two have shown leadership style that Nigerians and the people of Niger were proud of.

Bago added that the gesture was part of his support to the two leaders whom he described as worthy ambassadors of the people and the party.

“I want to make it categorically clear that this gesture is stemmed out of my genuine love and commitment to the course of governance of our dear country and my state‎ in particular.

‘’There is no gainsaying the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has in the last three years done what other presidents did not achieve within a similar period.

“We are all witnesses to the massive infrastructural development going on in different parts of the country, especially construction and rehabilitation of roads.

“We are also witnesses to the unprecedented development that Gov. Abubakar Bello has brought to Niger State within these few years that he got the opportunity to govern our dear state.

“I feel that these two leaders should be supported by every well-meaning Nigerian that has genuine love for the country.

“If for nothing, I believe we should support them so that we will continue to enjoy good governance in the next four years,” he said.

http://www.metronaija.ng/lawmaker-support-buhari-re-election-with-100-cars/

President Buhari received former Chairman EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at the State House, Abuja.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-nuhu-ribadu-visits-buhari/

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President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the sudden death of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Mr. Abdullahi Bawa Wase.

The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday.

While extending his condolences to the family members, the government and people of Plateau, Buhari praised the roles played by the late Wase in conflict resolution efforts in Plateau.

Buhari recalled that, even before his appointment as Ambassador, Wase was very prominently involved in community peace activism.

He, therefore, prayed to Allah to forgive the sins of the late Ambassador and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wase, a non-career ambassador from Plateau, died after a protracted illness on Friday night.

The remains of the deceased had since been buried in Doha, Qatar, at about 7.p.m (local time).

http://www.metronaija.ng/president-buhari-mourns-nigerias-ambassador-to-qatar-bawa-wase/

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday hosted Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe,Patrice Emery Trovoada to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. PHOTOS SUNDAY AGHAEZE

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-buhari-hosts-sao-tome-principe-prime-minister-travoada/

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In continuation of the National Logistics Committee’s (comprising of Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Federal Road Safety Commission, NAFDAC, NTA, and News Agency of Nigeria) interventions to alleviate the plight of people affected by the activities of insurgents in the North-East, the Committee was in Maiduguri earlier today for the sixth phase of items distribution.

Since February 2016, the Nigerian Customs Service, leading other agencies, with representatives of the media have been discharging the Presidential directive.

The items donated, being from a presidential directive to donate seized perishable items to IDPs are as follows:

1. Rice
a. 48,888 Bags of 50kg
b. 1,401 Bags of 25kg
c. 919 Cartons of Basmati Rice

2. Vegetable Oil
a. 8,708 Jerrycans of 25 ltrs.
b. 70 Cartons of 5 ltrs.

3. 2,012 Cartons of Spaghetti
4. 710 Bags of 50kg Sugar
5. Used Clothing - 482 Bales and 22 Sacks
6. 2,679 Pairs of Assorted Shoes
7. 100 Cartons of Rubber Slippers
8. 3,924 Pairs of Used Shoes
9. 196 Sacks of Used Shoes
10. 145 Cartons of Washing Soap
11. 2,448 Bales of Second-Hand Clothing
12. 51 Small Sacks of Ankara
13. 37 Bags of Children Shoes
14. 114 Cartons of New Shoes
15. 8 Big Sacks of New Clothes
16. 14 Sacks of Used Shoes

Governor Shettima while receiving the items for onward distribution to internally displaced persons, thanked the Nigerian Customs Service for their gesture, and commended their transparency.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Comptroller General of the Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) for the exemplary support.

The Governor reiterated the fact that the items are very good for human consumption, none is expired, and he will ensure transparency in the distribution.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the National Logistics Committee, ACG Abdulkadir Azarema commended His Excellency, the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima for his total and selfless commitment to the security and well being of all the people living in the State.

He recalled that Mr. President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, being concerned for Nigerians affected by the unfortunate activities of insurgents, gave directive to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) to donate all seized perishable items to the IDPs affected by insurgence in the North East.

He urged the camp officials to ensure judicious use of the relief materials for all the affected people, so also commended the military and other security agencies that are working day and night to sustain the relative security in the North-East, praying to God to reward them and help fellow Nigerians affected by the crisis to overcome the pains and rebuild the future.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-nigerian-customs-donates-relief-items-to-idp-camp/

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his wife, H.E. Toyin Saraki, pay their last respects to the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. Today in Ghana.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-obasanjo-and-saraki-at-kofi-annan-burial/

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no plan to postpone the 2019 general elections.

Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, made the clarification in a statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

Oyekanmi said the clarification became necessary following a story with the headline, “We may shift 2019 polls over threat of violence – INEC.”

The publication, according to Oyekanmi, does not portray the correct reflection of what INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Oyekanmi said what Yakubu told the security chiefs at the meeting was that as the 2019 general elections drew close; the committee would need to meet more frequently.

This, according to him, is to constantly assess the security situation across the country and take proactive actions to forestall any unpleasant event before, during and after the elections.

“He underscored the fact that elections cannot be conducted under a rancorous atmosphere.

“He referred to Section 26 of the Electoral Act which, among others, gives the commission the power to postpone an election if there is reason to believe that a serious breach of peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on (the fixed date)”, or as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies,“ Oyekanmi.

He said Yakubu made the reference to the Electoral Act only to underscore the importance of having peace and order in place before, during and after elections.

Oyekanmi also said that the INEC chairman’s reference was to emphasise the significance of the synergy between the commission and security agencies.

He added that Yakubu also noted that the most important assignment before the commission was the Osun governorship election.

“INEC boss added that the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Segun Agbaje and Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, would brief the committee on the current situation in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary said that Yakubu said the two officers would also brief the committee on the readiness for the governorship poll, which he said that they did.

“Besides, Yakubu spoke on the rising phenomenon of vote buying and selling and harped on the need for collaborative effort to decisively tackle the menace and prevent it during the Osun governorship election.

“He said a Code of Conduct for security agents would be enforced during the elections and warned that any activity outside the confines of legality/ legitimacy will be viewed seriously.”

Oyekanmi said that the INEC chairman also seized the opportunity to draw the committee’s attention to a certain video clip.

According to him, in the video, some political actors were seen making inciteful statements that could lead to serious security breaches before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

He added that Yakubu also called on the relevant security agencies to be vigilant, just as he urged them to take immediate action on the development.

“It is thus clear that at no point during his remarks did the INEC chairman allude to the notion that the commission “may shift 2019 polls over threat of violence” as reported by the national newspaper.

To be sure, INEC has no plan to postpone the 2019 General Elections,” Oyekanmi said.

http://www.metronaija.ng/no-plan-to-postpone-2019-general-elections-inec-2/

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Vice President, Osinbajo hosted the APC branch of the NotTooYoungToRun aspirants.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-apc-young-aspirants-meet-osinbajo/

Senate president, Bukola Saraki took the grow Nigeria message to Edo State today, where he met with State party delegates and executives and reiterated his determination to grow Nigeria out of poverty, stimulate the growth of SMEs and create wealth and opportunities for all Nigerians.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-saraki-meets-pdp-delegates-in-edo/

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The Anambra Police Command on Wednesday sealed the State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) located at Udoka Estate in Awka.

Mr Haruna Mohammed, the command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the sealing of the secretariat was due to fracas that erupted earlier in the day and avert further breakdown of law and order.

Mohammed added that the state had been peaceful over time and the police would not allow anybody to jeopardise the relative peaceful situation prevalent in the state under whatever cover.

“The police would take control of the area until when normalcy returns,” he said.

The PPRO denied the allegation that some of the protesters and their supporters were brutalised by thugs and some policemen.

Mr Ndubuisi Durkins, Assistant Legal Adviser of the party, who led the protest, had claimed that some of their members were injured.

He said the cause of their action was the imposition of a caretaker leadership on them by the national hierarchy of the party, in spite of a substantive court judgment that annulled the arrangement.

The protesters alleged that the chairman of the caretaker committee, Ndubuisi Nwobu, was a sellout who abandoned their collective struggle for what they called selfish and pecuniary interests.

Before the police took over the premises, it was gathered that the caretaker committee members had allegedly broken the secretariat gate to gain entrance for a meeting.

Addressing reporters, Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu, the caretaker chairman described the protest as a plan by the opposition to sabotage PDP chances in the 2019 general elections in Anambra.

He alleged that a senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) sponsored the protesters.

http://www.metronaija.ng/police-seals-anambra-pdp-office-over-fracas/

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Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos on Tuesday warned counsel to Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias “Evans” that no further delays would be tolerated in his ongoing trial.

Justice Oshodi gave the warning following a 30-minute verbal exchange he had with Mr Chinonye Obiagwu, Evans’ new defence counsel who had prayed for an adjournment to study the case file.

Obiagwu is one of the 31 newly-shortlisted Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for induction on Sept. 24.

Justice Oshodi said, “I cannot come from home during vacation to be told that the matter will not go on for one excuse or the other.

“Counsel should desist from filing applications targeting at stalling trial, parties must get their witnesses ready, so that justice will be served within reasonable time frame.”

Evans had on various occasions hired two defence counsel; Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje and Mr Noel Brown to represent him.

The changes in defence counsel had caused delays in the trial.

Previous court proceedings held on June 26, had been put on hold due to Brown taking over from Ogungbeje who was Evans’ first defence counsel at the onset of his trial.

Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

The six accused were arraigned on Aug 30, 2017 on two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, from whose family they allegedly collected 223,000 Euro (N100m) as ransom.

Evans and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Earlier during proceedings, a witness, Insp. Idowu Haruna of the Intelligence Response Team that arrested the defendants, had told the court how the accused were arrested.

Haruna’ who was led in evidence by Mr Adebayo Haroun, the State Prosecuting counsel, told the court that the statements of the defendants were not obtained under duress but rather in a conducive environment.

Following Haruna’s revelation of how the statement were obtained, the prosecuting officer urged the court to admit the statements as evidence.

Obiagwu, however opposed the admissibility of the statements on the premise that they were obtained under duress prompting Justice Oshodi to order a trial-within-trial.

During the trial-within-trial, Haruna told the court that when Dunu, Evans’ alleged victim escaped from the kidnappers den, he was brought to the Anti-Kidnapping Department, Ikeja and was later taken to the then Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni.

“Owoseni then ordered a team to move to the defendants hideout at Igando, a suburb of Lagos.

” On getting to the house, the abductors had fled the scene with their little possessions but the police team found some ammunitions in the house which the defendants left behind,” he said.

Haruna revealed that during interrogation, Evans had alleged that he enjoyed the services of some officers of the Nigerian Army during their kidnap operations.

“Whenever they were going on their operation, they put on army uniform to camouflage as army officers and disguise in order to deceive their prey.

“Two army officers involved were later arrested and taken before their superiors at Abati Barracks for disciplinary actions.

“They were dismissed and taken back to the police for further disciplinary action,” Haruna said.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 26 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.

http://www.metronaija.ng/judge-orders-accelerated-trial-of-evans-2/

Sen. Shehu Sani and 14 other aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected indirect primaries adopted by the party in Kaduna State.

The aspirants led by Sani, in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, demanded direct primaries.

The State Executive Committee of the APC had announced it would use indirect primaries or delegate method to select candidates for the 2019 polls.

But Sani and the 14 other aspirants in the three-page letter said indirect primaries would short-change them.

According to them, the indirect method was a “direct antithesis to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight against corruption at all levels.’’

The letter also stated in part: “The party having touted the change mantra must shine the light into those dark places in the electoral system where the corruptive influence of ill-gotten wealth is used to subvert the will of the electorate.

“The indirect method will only perpetuate the vicious circle of corruption, bad governance and weak and dysfunctional institutions and processes.

“We the aspirants and stakeholders of the Kaduna State Chapter of our great party, the APC, present our best compliments to you and wish by this letter to inform Your Excellency of our collective decision to adopt direct primaries as the preferred mode of nominating candidates at primary elections into all elective positions in the state.

“We the undersigned are particularly in opposition to indirect primaries because of the weakening effects of its corruptive tendencies.

“The entire process begins and ends with vote buying. And, as it is always the case where the will of the general electorate is subverted, the best candidates for the tasks at hand never get recruited.

“Our decision to adopt direct primaries in Kaduna State is the panacea to the deep fault lines and obstacles to building a strong virile, people-rooted APC.

“Direct primaries is the most assured means at throwing up the most popular candidates that will deliver Kaduna State for the APC come 2019.’’

“Over the past three years, there had been a significant amount of disquiet in the camp of the APC in the state, resulting to a disturbing level as apathy and anomie now pervade the party as a result of the profound sense of marginalisation,’’ it said.

The group said that many critical stakeholders, as well as members of the party, had faced outright exclusion in some instances.

“The delegate system, otherwise called indirect primaries, will rely on the whims and caprices of the few that now control the party after emerging from the ward, local government and state congresses that have been widely rejected by party members as a sham.

“Hundreds of party members who bought forms with a view to vying for various wards, local governments and state party executive positions were deliberately excluded from the process and in some instances even intentionally blocked from submitting their forms,’’ it added.

Signatories to the letter apart from Sani (APC-Kaduna Central), who is seeking a second term, included Halal Falal, a gubernatorial aspirant.

Others include Mohammed Sani, who is aspiring to represent Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Aliyu Silver, aspiring to represent Kaduna North Senatorial District and Rufai Chanchangu, the member representing Kaduna South Federal Constituency.

It would be recalled that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had resolved to adopt direct primaries for all elective positions.

The party, however, said it could allow indirect primaries based on the peculiarity and need of a given state

http://www.metronaija.ng/shehu-sani-14-apc-aspirants-reject-indirect-primaries-in-kaduna/