Antonio Conte blasts Jose Mourinho - 'You are just a little man with low profile'

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has called Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho "a little man" as the pair continued to trade insults.


On Friday, Mourinho said he would "never be suspended for match-fixing", appearing to talk about Conte.

The Italian received a four-month suspension while at Juventus in 2012-13 for failing to report match-fixing at his previous club Siena.

In 2016, Conte was cleared by a court of any wrongdoing in the matter.

"I think when there are these types of comments, comments where you try to offend the person and don't know the truth, then you are a little man," Conte told BBC Sport on Saturday after his side's 0-0 draw at Norwich City in the FA Cup third round.

In numerous interviews to the media on Saturday, Conte repeatedly called Mourinho "a little man".

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "When is the game against United? We can meet in a room. To try and explain about these comments. I don't know if he is ready to meet me in a room, just me and him.

"I'm not surprised [at the comments]. He has to know before he speaks because he is suffering from amnesia."

Antonio Conte continued to talk about former Chelsea boss Mourinho in the post-match news conference and explained further what had happened in Italy.

"It's true I was banned for four months by the sporting justice for failure to report," Conte, 48, said. "Then I asked for a retrial by court and then they declared it nonsense.

"Before you make these kind of comments you must pay great attention, because you show you are a little man.

"In the past he was a little man in many circumstances, he's a little man in the present and for sure he will be a little man in the future. I consider him a little man and I consider him a man with a very low profile."

Conte also criticised 54-year-old Mourinho, who wore a shirt with the initials 'CR' at a Manchester United news conference in February 2017, in support of another former Chelsea manager, Claudio Ranieri, who had just been sacked by Leicester City.

"I remember with Ranieri when he [Mourinho] offended him for his English," added Conte. "And then when Ranieri was sacked he put on a shirt for Ranieri. You are fake, you are fake.

"I think in this last period he's suffering a bit of amnesia. When you become older there is this type of risk. Also for me and for you.

"If you want to fight this person, you try to kill this person. And then after two years you try to help this person because maybe it's good for you, for your profile."

(BBC)

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SHOCKING: Man keeps daughter as sex slave for 22 years, fathers her eight children

A man, who fathered eight children with his own daughter after repeatedly raping her during a 22-year reign of terror, has been jailed for 12 years and eight months, Daily Mail UK, reports.



Argentinian Domingo Bulacio, 57, showed no sign of emotion as he was sentenced for multiple sex crimes after a trial at a court in the northern city of Santiago del Estero.

Relatives of the serial rapist were among the 50 witnesses who gave evidence at the hearing.

Bulacio, known by the nickname Vernacho, had been in custody since his arrest after 45 days on the run.

He fled his home in Villa Balnearia, an hour’s drive from Santiago del Estero, after his victim, named locally as Antonia, went to authorities seeking help and claiming her dad had turned her into his sex slave when she was just 11 after kicking out her mother.

DNA tests confirmed the children were his. Six of the eight children born from the sex crimes spent time living at a charity boarding school but are now said to be back with their mum at the rundown family home.

She said: “From the moment my mum left home, I became my father’s wife.

“He would hit me and used to chase me round the house with a lump of wood when he saw me chatting to a neighbour or simply wanted to abuse me.

“He threatened me constantly and I always feared for my life. He told me he would kill me if I said anything.

“I’m scared for my life and the life of my children because I’m receiving threats from my father’s relatives to withdraw my complaint against him. They’re not at all concerned about what’s happened.

“I want him to rot in jail. I want justice to be done.”

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Stoke City sack Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes has been sacked as manager of Stoke City, just hours after the club's FA Cup third-round exit at the hands of League Two Coventry City.


A run of five defeats in seven Premier League games also contributed to Hughes' departure and he leaves with the club in the relegation zone.

Hughes, 54, had been in charge of the Potters for four and a half years.

Stoke, who play Manchester United on 15 January, say they will "look to appoint a new manager as soon as possible".

A section of Stoke fans called for him to leave and held up banners throughout the 2-1 defeat at the Ricoh Arena.

After the game, the Welshman said he did not think the defeat changed the situation regarding his future and said it "might be a blessing" for the rest of the season.

Hughes, a former Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and QPR boss, succeeded Tony Pulis at Stoke in May 2013 and was the fourth longest-serving manager at a Premier League club.

He guided Stoke to three straight ninth-placed finishes, dropping to 13th last season.

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Conte brands Mourinho "a little man" as feud escalates

Antonio Conte / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON

Antonio Conte labelled Jose Mourinho "a little man" as the Chelsea manager's feud with the Manchester United boss escalated following his team's FA Cup goalless draw against Norwich on Saturday.

Conte and Mourinho have exchanged increasingly bitter barbs over the course of this season and their rivalry has reached boiling point over the last week.

Responding to Mourinho talking about Conte in relation to a past match-fixing scandal in Italy, the former Juventus boss said: "We all know him very well. But it's always the same. This is his way. It's not a surprise for me.

"I think when you try to hurt a person, especially if you know very well the truth of what happens, the court proved my innocence, when you do this it means you are a little man.

"But this is the not the first time. He does this in the past and he continues to do this in the present and when you are in this way you will continue to be in this way."

Mourinho had triggered the latest bad blood when he was asked about his recent solemn behaviour on the touchline and responded by saying he no longer acts "like a clown" in a comment that was perceived as being aimed at Conte and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Conte hit back by suggesting that the United manager may be suffering from "demenza senile" -- senile dementia -- because he had clearly forgotten his past wild ways on the touchline.

Mourinho didn't take that jibe well and after United's win against Derby on Friday he said: "What has never happened to me and will never happen is to be suspended for match-fixing."

The surprising reference to "match-fixing" drew a follow-up question as to whether it was directly aimed at Conte.

The Chelsea boss was acquitted of sporting fraud charges in 2016. Prosecutors had requested a six-month suspended sentence following accusations he failed to report episodes of match-fixing while in charge at Serie B side Siena in 2011.

The former Italy manager -- who has always denied any wrongdoing -- served a four-month ban in relation to the affair in 2012.

But when mention was made of the accusations against Conte, Mourinho said: "Did he? Not me."

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Barcelona agree to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool

Barcelona on Saturday announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in a deal reported to be worth up to 160 million euros ($192 million).

"Barcelona and Liverpool have reached an agreement for the transfer of Philippe Coutinho. The player will sign a contract for the rest of the season and five more years with a release clause of 400 million euros," said a Barcelona statement.

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BREAKING: Barcelona, Liverpool agree £142million deal for Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona have agreed the signing of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a fee that could reach £142m. Barcelona expect the Brazil international to fly out in time to be at their match with Levante on Sunday afternoon. The 25-year-old did not join his Liverpool team-mates as they flew to Dubai on Saturday and has been adamant that he did not wish to play again for the Anfield club.


Barcelona have put together a package worth a basic fee of £106m, plus a further £36m in variables, of which £26m should be easily met. After the £105m basic, an additional £17m would be payable for the first 100 games Coutinho plays for Barcelona, £4.4m per 25 games. A further £4.4m would be paid for Champions League qualification in the first two seasons with a £4.4m bonus for winning the competition. Coutinho has agreed a five-and-a-half-year deal worth £12.1m a season.

Liverpool had refused to countenance a sale in the summer, going so far as to release a statement insisting that he would not depart, and Barça’s private confidence that they would back down proved to be unfounded, even though they did not finally give up until the last day of the summer transfer window. After the window closed, the club’s sporting director, Albert Soler, publicly claimed that at the last minute Liverpool had offered to sell for £177m but that they had that refused to meet such figure as an act of financial responsibility. That statement was met with a denial from Anfield.

Barcelona had not given up on Coutinho but there was an internal debate about the extent to which they could afford to meet a fee which they believed would be in the region of £124m. Some on the board feared that not only was the fee high, having spent over £88m of the £196m they had received for Neymar on Ousame Dembélé, it might also deny opportunities to squad members such as Denis Suárez. While there was little doubt that in the medium to long term he was a priority, Coutinho would also be unable to play in the Champions League this season.

Coutinho remained determined to depart and Liverpool’s posture had changed. That shift became apparent in the public remarks from Anfield, as well as the private information Barcelona had, as they worked with the Brazilian’s camp. Liverpool team-mates had soon come to assume that he was going to leave. On Saturday night, members of the Barcelona squad believed that Coutinho will join them.

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Nigeria to speed up repatriating migrants from Libya

PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

Nigeria is to speed up repatriating its citizens from Libya which has been accused of exploiting and ill-treating migrants, its foreign minister said in Tripoli on Saturday.

Geoffrey Onyeama told a news conference Nigeria was chartering two aircraft to repatriate over the next few days 800 of its citizens who wanted to go home.

Onyeama said he had visited two migrant detention centres in Libya and met a number of his compatriots.

"The reality is that a large number of these Nigerians here have suffered greatly and have gone through an extreme traumatic experience," he told reporters.

"The main objective is to get these Nigerians back home as quickly as possible."

Onyeama admitted there had been difficulties in identifying the number of Nigerians in Libya, as many were undocumented or in detention centres not controlled by the authorities.

Nigeria had already pledged to repatriate 250 migrants a week, following a CNN report on a slave trade targeting illegal migrants from west Africa in Libya.

Nigerians make up the majority of undocumented migrants trying to make the treacherous crossing via the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

Almost 1,300 Nigerian migrants were brought home from Libya last November -- nearly twice as many as in the previous month, the head of Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency said in December.

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Electoral officer slumps as Kachikwu delivers ward to APC in Delta election

An electoral officer, simply identified as Ufuoma mysteriously slumped and died during the local council election in Delta State.

Ufuoma who arrived the election venue at Unit 9, Ifeyinwa Primary school, Onicha Ugbo with other officials and suddenly slumped.

One of the electorates, Dibie Justin told The Guardian that the death came as a rude shock to all the voters.

Meanwhile, Minister of state for Petroleum resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu delivered his ward in his community to All Progressive Congress (APC).

APC's victory in the PDP dominated community has sent shivers to the spines of Delta government ahead of the 2019 general elections.

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CHAN Eagles to depart for Morocco Monday

CHAN Eagles’

The home-based Super Eagles will depart Nigeria on Monday for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) holding in Morocco, team Head Coach Salisu Yusuf said on Saturday in Abuja.

The coach told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his 23-man squad would be heading for glory as they had prepared very well for the competition.

“We are prepared for what we are going for, and we are sure we will return with glory,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the CHAN Eagles team comprises three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders and eight strikers.

Some of the players, including Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who is the team captain, Stephen Eze, and Austin Obaroakpo, also featured prominently in the 2016 edition of the competition in Rwanda.

Current Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer Anthony Okoptu, Dayo Ojo, Okechukwu Gabrielsl and Abdullahi Musa will be making their debut at the championship which is now in its fifth edition.

Nigeria is participating for the third time in the championship since its inception in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire, with the Eagles playing their opening match on Jan. 15 against Rwanda.

Nigeria’s best outing was at South Africa in 2014, where they came third with Ejike Uzoenyi emerging as the best player.

NAN reports that the championship is designed for players who ply their trade in their various countries’ professional league.

This 2018 edition, with 16 teams participating, will kick off on Jan. 13 and end on Feb. 4.

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NLC tasks Kano government on irregularities in salaries

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has advised the state government to investigate the recent alleged irregularities in the payment of workers’ salaries in the state.

The state NLC chairman, Comrade Kabiru Minjibir, gave the advice on Saturday at the inauguration of the new executive members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano Branch.

Minjibir said the advice became imperative because of cases of salary irregularities in the state.

He said “overtime now, there has been cases of over payment, under payments and illegal deduction of salaries that have caused untold hardship to affected workers .“

Minjibir pointed out that “We have serious irregularities in the payment of salaries for November and December 2017 and majority of workers were shortchanged in the payments of their salaries.

“It is disheartening to witness this act and we deem it necessary to call on government to immediately detect this irregularities.

“Most of workers’ salaries have been deducted without any reason; but we hope government will immediately do something and bring to book the culprits.

“Failure by government to investigate and bring to book the culprits will force the union to seek redress in court,”he said.

He expressed the hope that the state government would put its search light to identify those responsible for the fraud.

He said the union at its own level had started investigation with a view to identifying those responsible for the illegal act and report them to the government for necessary action.

The NLC chairman also decried state government’s alleged nonchalance over pension payments and called for immediate action to remedy the situation.

Minjibir said if the situation continues, the union in the state would have no other option than to use sector 41 of the Kano State Pension and Gratuity law 2006, to seek redress.

Earlier in his remarks, the newly elected Council Chairmen, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim promised to operate an open door policy in order to carry every member along.

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Coutinho set to join Barcelona – report

Barcelona and Liverpool have agreed a deal in principle for Philippe Coutinho to move to the Spanish giants for 120 million euros ($144 million) with add-ons worth another 40 million euros, a report said Saturday.


Barcelona-based Sport newspaper said Coutinho would join Barca this month on a deal for five seasons, although it said the details of the deal were still to be finalised.

“The club reached a deal in principle yesterday evening with Liverpool on the final amount of the deal,” Sport reported.

Another newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, said Liverpool were demanding 160 million euros for 25-year-old Coutinho, but that the sum would be made up of the transfer fee and other “variables”.

Coutinho’s departure would be a blow to Liverpool as he is just rounding into top form, scoring six goals in the last seven games of 2017.

Crucially though, acquiring the playmaker would allow Barcelona to move on from the bitter experience of losing his Brazil teammate Neymar last summer to Qatar-backed Paris Saint-Germain for a world record 222 million euros.

Coutinho’s age is also highly attractive to Barca, whose three main stars, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta are all in their thirties. Iniesta, at 33, has shown signs of fatigue this season.

Another report said Coutinho could arrive in Barcelona later Saturday and could be a spectator at Barcelona’s game against Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

French sport daily L’Equipe reported on Saturday that Liverpool were lining up Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez to replace Coutinho, although other reports have indicated that the Merseyside club would prefer to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco.

Coutinho played no role in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over city rivals Everton in the FA Cup on Friday. Liverpool’s winner was scored by Virgil Van Dijk, the Dutch defender signed last week from Southampton for £75 million ($101.7 million, 84.5 million euros).

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Poly Ibadan reopens Jan. 8

Ibadan Poly

The authorities of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Saturday said that the institution will reopen on 8 January for the 2017/18 academic Session.

The Registrar Mr. Hezekiah Fehintola urged candidates who had been offered admission to log on to the institution’s website to pay the acceptance fee

He also asked old students to log on to the Website for details on registration and other activities .

The Registrar said that academic activities will commence on Monday, 15th Jan. for both freshmen and old students.

The polytechnic, founded in 1970, was shut on 2 November, 2017 after the academic staff union of the institution embarked on an indefinite strike over non payment of salaries and other benefits by the state government.

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Delta LG poll: Thugs batter electoral officials

Photo Credit; rockcityfmradio

Some Thugs suspected to be loyal to a certain political party, have attacked electoral officials in the Ayakoromo Ward 7 (12), even as PDP and APC trade blames.

Earlier in the day, some gunmen stormed the Ughelli L.G. headquarters and snatched electoral materials meant for the area.

In the Ayakoromo Ward 7 (12) incident, some thugs attacked electoral officials on the river banks in the area upon their arrival.

The Presiding Officer who arrived with a few policemen without the Returning Officer was attacked, while a large chunk of the election materials he brought for the election, were hijacked and destroyed along the river banks.

There were accusations and counter accusations by loyalists of the two major parties participating in the election, APC and PDP.

Partisan observers at the polling units accused certain individuals as being responsible for the violent incident.

There has been an earlier report that the Returning Officer for the Ayakoromo Ward 7 (12) has not reported at his duty post since morning.
He was still to surface around 1.00 PM when this report was filed.

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Three fixtures to watch out for as European football resumes

PHOTO:Football Fancast

While the English league kept us glued to our TV sets (or whatever device you use in watching the games) with some breath-taking football over the holiday period, most of the other major European leagues went on short breaks.

The good news now is that these leagues are beginning to resume gradually, which only means a whole lot more football for us.

The Serie A and La Liga return to action this weekend, while in France, Coupe des France games will be played this weekend before the league resumes next weekend. I will be previewing three games to watch from these countries as the football season resumes fully this 2018.

ROMA vs. ATALANTA
The Giallorossi host Atalanta this evening with the aim of a positive start to 2018 after ending last year with a disappointing draw against Sassuolo. Roma, who are nine points behind the leaders, will look to improve as they take on Atalanta, but La Dea have been in excellent form as they come into this game after beating Napoli to earn a spot in the Coppa Italia final four.

Atalanta had been on a five match unbeaten streak before losing surprisingly to Cagliari at the end of the last year and they would be eyeing at least a point against the team from the capital. They have been pretty solid this term, especially in the Europa League, where they topped a group that included Everton and Lyon.

Roma have also been impressive in Europe this term, topping a group that included Chelsea and Atletico Madrid in the UCL, but they crashed out of the Coppa Italia and have slipped well off the pace in the race for the Scudetto. Roma have the best defensive record in the Serie A, but have been struggling defensively recently and have conceded at least one goal in three of their last four league home ties.

Atalanta will definitely fancy their chances in this game, especially after knocking out Napoli of the Coppa Italia. Gian Piero Gasperini's men have impressed with their attacking style, although they also have their own defensive issues, which could mean a really entertaining, free-flowing and open match here for both fans and neutrals alike.

Gregoire Defrel and Rick Karsdorp are doubts for this game, while Kostas Manolas is over his knee problems and should play from the off for Roma and Radja Nainggolan has been left out of the squad after being disciplined by the club. For Atalanta, they have no injury worries and Leonardo Spinazzola, who has been linked with Juventus should play today.

CELTA VIGO vs. REAL MADRID
Los Blancos are not having the best of seasons so far and would hope to turn things around this New Year. The reigning Champions League and La Liga champions ended 2017 on a bitter-sweet note as they retained their FIFA Club World Cup trophy in December only to be pummeled 3-0 by their arch-rivals Barcelona in their final match of the year.

That loss saw them slip down to fourth place on the log and also fourteen points behind the Blaugrana.

Zinedine Zidane knows how fickle the powers that be at Madrid can be and although his job doesn't seem to be on the line at the moment, he knows that a failure here against Celta Vigo might well force Florentino Perez into making important decisions.

This is a potential banana skin for Madrid as getting all three points at Balaidos will be quite a serious challenge against a competent Celta team, who have shown their capabilities to hang with the 'big boys' this season by holding Barcelona to a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou earlier in la liga.

The main issue for Emiliano Unzue and his men is inconsistency since Celta are just struggling to clinch back-to-back wins or produce solid performances in consecutive games, however, their talisman and captain Iago Aspas seems to have found his form as he finished 2017 with six goals in his last five matches and he is a player that Madrid should really be bothered about in this game.

Gareth Bale has finally recovered from injury and scored in the Copa Del Rey during the week, so he is expected to start this game for the Champions. Madrid needs to find some sort of inspiration real quick as they are winless in their last three games on the road in La Liga and failed to find the back of the net against both Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao on their last two travels.

Dani Carvajal is suspended for the visitors, while Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema will both sit out this game with injuries. For Celta, they should have Jonny back in the defense after he picked up a hamstring niggle in midweek.

RENNES vs. PSG
PSG will begin the defence of their Coupe de France title with a tricky trip away to Rennes on Sunday night. Rennes seem to have the most unfortunate draw in the competition as they will be hosting a PSG side that is all out to win as many silverwares as they can afford this season after investing heavily in their squad, but the consolation for them (if there's any) is the fact that they will be playing at home.

Rennes will also hope that PSG will take their feet off the pedal a bit for this fixture and rest some of their start players, but even at that, this PSG team boasts the likes of Loucas Moura, Julian Draxler, Thiago Motta, Javier Pastore and Hatem Ben Arfa, all proven internationals, in their second XI. PSG has lost just two games in all competitions this season and it's hard to see Rennes inflicting a third loss on them, but as we know in football, nothing is ever set in stone, especially in cup ties.

Strasbourg have been the only French side to defeat PSG this season and even fans of Strasbourg didn't see that coming, so Rennes might just try to use the same blueprint for that shock win and replicate the result, though PSG have already doubled their points tally this season, the home side are allowed to dream. PSG have already beaten Rennes 4-1 at this very ground this season and the Parisians will be looking for a repeat performance.

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2019: APC restates commitment to peaceful, credible elections in Ebonyi

PHOTO: Ebonyi State Goverment

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday restated its commitment to peaceful and credible 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.

The state’s Chairman of the party, Mr Eze Nwachukwu, who gave the assurance while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, therefore, appealed to groups and individuals preaching violence and war ahead of the elections to have a rethink.

Nwachukwu insisted that APC would abide by extant laws, rules and regulations guiding peaceful conduct of elections in the country.

He said that the party had at a stakeholders meeting on Friday, reviewed its preparedness for the forthcoming general elections and seen the need to make its position known especially in view of unsavoury comments allegedly made by some politicians in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state governor, David Umahi, had said that he was ready for the political intrigues that would herald the battle for elective positions in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He said this on Monday while addressing stakeholders of Afikpo North and Ezza South, who paid him a Christmas visit at his country home in Uburu.

In his remarks, he vowed to ensure the re-election of the state and federal lawmakers from Afikpo North and Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.

Umahi had said that there was no vacancy in the state House of Assembly and National Assembly positions in both councils, and that those aspiring for the positions should wait for 2023.

“I am a man of war and ready to war in ensuring that the present occupiers of the positions are re-elected in 2019.

“We all came together on the platform of divine mandate and would complete the mandates together.

“When we all finish our tenures, I will force the present occupiers to vacate the seats to ensure that other aspirants realise their ambitions,’’ Umahi said.

Nwachukwu described the governor’s threat as an indication of acceptance of defeat.

“Gov. Umahi, while addressing stakeholders of Afikpo North and Ezza South, who paid him a Christmas visit at his country home in Uburu, declared himself as a man of war and ready to fight for his re-election in 2019.

“For us in APC, such comments are un-dignifying and unwarranted especially coming from a man occupying the exalted office of Governor.

“Election is neither a war nor a do-or-die affair. It is a free contest that is only decided by the electorate through the ballot hence it is not an act or war.

“Our questions then are: who is fighting who and who is warring against, who since it must take two to fight or to get involved in a war,’’ Nwachukwu said.

“The Governor knows that he has been technically defeated and that is why he wants to threaten and intimidate.’’

Nwachukwu stated that as the largest opposition party in the state, APC believes that power resides with the people and that such power is exercised through their free franchise.

He said that the party would rather seek the votes of the people than preach war.

“For us in the opposition, ours is to mobilize the electorate, canvass for their votes and support and to urge them to actively participate in the electoral process through sustained sensitisation.

“We are letting residents know that we are ready and set to take over power not by hook or crook, but by the laid down legal procedure that enhances peaceful and credible elections.

“We in APC subscribe to the laws of the land and this includes those laws and guidelines regulating conduct of behaviour during elections because in Nigeria there are laws guiding actions and behaviour and our actions,” Nwachukwu added.

He, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be vigilant and to apply strict sanctions against any political party or candidate for the elections that violates the electoral law or INEC guidelines.

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LG polls: Economic activities halt in Asaba, environs

Photo Credit; rockcityfmradio

Economic and social activities have been grounded in Asaba and its environs following the ongoing local government polls in the 25 councils Edo.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored the poll on Saturday in Asaba, Oshimili North, Aniocha South and environs, reported that shops, markets, filling stations were under lock and key.

There was total vehicular movement restriction in the areas following the state police command order on restriction of movements within the state between 6:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m.on election day.

It also reports that most of the polling units visited in the areas had quite a large number of voters who were being accredited for voting.

Voting has commenced in some other areas such as ward 6 Omuboy Primary and Secondary school Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.

NAN also reports that voting had also commenced in Ward 11 Aninsha Primary school in Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.

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Delta council polls: Voters comply with government restriction order in Warri

Okowa

There was almost full compliance in Warri and environs with the restriction of movement order by the Delta Government as the council polls began on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only very few persons and vehicles on special duties were seen on the ever busy major roads in Warri and environs.

However, there were security operatives stationed at strategic locations like the Refinery junction in Ekpan and Airport road to enforce compliance.

Though shops were not opened for businesses, traders of food items in Okere market in Warri South were selling to customers.

However, election materials started leaving the Delta Independent Electoral Commission’s (DESIEC) office in Warri South Local Government Area to the various wards and units as at 8:24 a.m.

The Electoral Officer in Warri South, Mr Tedeye Omagba, said the exercise had been very peaceful.

“You can see the presence of heavy security men around.

“The people have been very orderly and I assure you everything will end peacefully,” he said.

Also, Mr Kelly Otuedon, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Uvwie Local Government Area, said the party had done a lot of grassroots campaign to guarantee the party’s victory at the poll.

Otuedon, who is also the Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa on Security Matters, dismissed the claim that the party imposed candidates on the people in the council.

“We did not impose any candidate on the people, they chose their candidates and are ready to defend their choice today at the poll.

“So far the exercise has been so peaceful,” he said.

NAN reported that voting materials had not been evacuatef from the Uvwie Council as at 9:30 a.m.

The DESIEC office in Ughelli North has, however, been reportedly set ablaze by suspected hoodlums.

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