Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Seven aspirants boycotted the APC primary in Ekiti, alleging fraud and manipulation. They demanded that the process be delayed for some days and that the local government election committee and ward election committee be disbanded and replaced with names that would reinforce internal democracy and uphold the aims and objectives of the party. The seven aspirants include Otunba 'Demola Popoola, Kayode Ojo, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Oluwatoyin Afolabi Olufemi Bamishile and Bamidele Faparusi. The police in Ekiti State have intercepted an 18-seater bus conveying 12-armed men, suspected to be errand boys for politicians, a few hours to the primary. This comes barely 24-hours after the command announced the arrest of 105 suspected party thugs by soldiers. The seized weapons include four single-barrel guns, one cut-to-size locally-made pistol, seven cartridges and substances suspected to be drugs.