Gunmen kill C’River governor’s steward

                                                                                          Sebastian

The personal steward of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has been reportedly killed in Calabar.

The steward, who was identified as Sebastian, was said to have been killed in his residence by some yet-to-be identified, shortly after departing from the governor’s house on Friday.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the steward, who hailed from the Obanliku Local Government Area of the state, had followed his boss round the state on political campaigns, but was killed shortly after returning home.

He said, “Sebastian was killed on Friday in his Eight Mile residence. He was loved by the governor and his family. He had five-year-old twins and a new baby. The news came to us as a shock.”

Nigeria dropped Iwobi to avoid ban – NFF

                                                                                                  Alex Iwobi

The Nigeria Football Federation has explained why Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi was excluded from the U-23 team ahead of the All-Africa Games qualifier against Gabon on Saturday.

The football body had left no stone unturned in convincing the 18-year-old to switch allegiance to his fatherland despite having represented England at the youth level. He was initially listed by coach Samson Siasia to play in Saturday’s game, but information reached the NFF hours before the game that the player was not eligible at that level, according to FIFA rules. It was, however, too late to drop him from the contingent heading to Gabon.

NFF Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme , explained that the decision to take him along was to encourage the player and others in the Diaspora.

Obasanjo: PDP’s lost crown jewel

                                                             Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Following the theatrical exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party, TOBI AWORINDE examines the implications for the party

Last Monday, the nation witnessed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a dramatic fashion, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, which brought him to power in 1999.

Obasanjo, while hosting officials and members of the party from Ward 11, Abeokuta North Ogun State at his Hilltop residence, officially cut ties with the party by having his membership card torn to bits.

Video clip confirms fraud at Osun poll – Omisore

                                                                                         Senator Iyiola Omisore

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in August 9th, 2014 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said the proported video which was made available to the public is an evidence that the All Progressives Congress rigged the governorship election in the state.

Omisore, whose petition to challenge the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Election Petitions Tribunal was recently dismissed spoke to our correspondent in Osogbo on Saturday through his media aide, Mr. Victor Oriola.

The media aide said that the video which showed how some persons were thumb printing ballot papers for the APC candidate had been around for some time.

APC, NBA demand investigation of Ekiti ‘audio tape’

                                                                                      Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties have demanded a probe of the audio file which purportedly captures the voices of Peoples Democratic Party leaders plotting to rig the June 2, 2014 elections with officers of the Nigerian Army in Ekiti.

The recording, which was on Sahara Reporters, purportedly captured the voices of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore and a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, in a meeting where they allegedly gave directives to one Brig.-Gen. Momoh to favour the PDP.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday, wondered why the military had been silent over the tape which has been in circulation for over two weeks.