Swift Wave Reporter, Author at Swift Wave Radio

Iga Swiatek wins French Open, defeating Coco Gauff in women’s final

On the eve of her first Grand Slam final, 18-year-old Coco Gauff insisted that nerves wouldn’t be an issue, vowing to hit freely and compete as if she had nothing to lose in Saturday’s French Open championship.

That was more easily said than done against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, whose ruthless efficiency didn’t give Gauff a chance to find anything resembling comfort on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Swiatek raced to a 6-1, 6-3 victory in 68 minutes to claim her second Grand Slam just days after turning 21. At the 2020 French Open, she was an unseeded 19-year-old who became a national heroine overnight as the first tennis player from Poland to win a major. With her triumph Saturday, Swiatek extended her winning streak to 35 matches.

In an on-court trophy ceremony tinged with tears on both players’ parts, Gauff congratulated Swiatek on her achievement and voiced hope that they would meet in future Grand Slam finals. “And maybe I can get a win on you one of these days,” Gauff said with a giggle, wiping her tear-streaked face.

Swiatek, after thanking her family and supporters, particularly those who waved Poland’s flag so proudly throughout the two-week tournament, spoke directly to Gauff as her own tears fell.

“I can see every month you are progressing, all the time,” Swiatek said. “When I was your age, [it] was my first year on tour, and I had no idea what I was doing! You will find it.”

Then she addressed the people of Ukraine.

“I want at the end to say something to Ukraine: To stay strong because the war is still there,” said Swiatek, who competes with a yellow and blue ribbon on her cap in solidarity with Ukraine, a neighbor of Poland.

Swiatek wanted this French Open title badly, she revealed afterward.

When she won it at 19, before a largely empty stadium at the height of the pandemic, it left her “confused” and feeling a bit “lucky,” she said.

On Saturday, a second French Open title

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Music / News

Femi Kuti gifted multi-million naira Saxophone ahead of his 60th birthday

The expensive saxophone, a Selmer Paris Supreme 2022, was acquired by the family of the Afrobeat legend in an effort led by his son, Made Kuti, sister Yeni Kuti, and a committee of family and friends.

Speaking on the reason for joining in the surprise, Yeni Kuti said the family needed to celebrate Femi, who puts others before him and remains hardworking.

Made, the third generation Afrobeat talent also spoke on his father’s selflessness. He said he could tell his father coveted the saxophone but will not change his old saxophone despite the glitches it has been having in recent times.

The 26-year-old Grammy-nominated artist revealed that he spotted the saxophone in the company of his father during one of their tours. From the look in his father’s eyes, he could tell he wanted the saxophone but would rather put his responsibilities before his wants or needs. “This as far as I am concerned is the award of the people, it’s bigger than Grammy. I can’t ask got more,” the joyous Femi Kuti said as he received the saxophone valued at over €8000 from his family on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the New Afrikan Shrine during the Father & Son: The Experience event.

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News / politics / Religion / Security

Owo attack: Akeredolu directs flags to fly at half-mast for seven days

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has directed that flags should be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities and official residences for seven days in honor of the victims of the Owo terror attack on Sunday.

This is contained in a statement issued by Akeredolu’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde on Monday in Akure.

”In honor of the victims of this unfortunate attack, I hereby direct that all flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, starting from Monday to June 12.

”It is a collective loss to the people of our dear state. ”The attack on innocent worshipers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street,Owo is a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state.

”Those who unleashed this unprovoked terror attack on our people have tested our collective resolves.

”We will not be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act,” he said.…

Education / News

UniAbuja dismisses two professors

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na-Allah, says the institution has gone tough on lecturers sexually harassing students, as two professors had been dismissed for the offence.

Na’Allah told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in New York that the university had introduced a policy on sex abuse on campus, which had been published.

Na-Allah, who was on a two–day visit to the U.S., to meet with the University of Abuja Alumni Association, USA chapter, to solicit support for the institution, said, ”female students needed to be protected.” According to him, the institution is committed to high moral standards and will not tolerate any act of misconduct perpetrated by its staff against students. “I have dismissed two professors since I became the vice- chancellor. It tells you how we are serious about the issue of sexual harassment.

“We are collaborating with some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), to make sure that it is not only us that are addressing this issue, but we have a strong partnership.

“We cannot allow the lives of our students to be destroyed, because most of the abuses destroy the lives of their victims.’’

The vice-chancellor said: ”it was sad to see some lecturers, who are supposed to be protecting the female students, becoming one of their problems.

“This a problem of universities in Nigeria, not only University of Abuja alone.

“But UniAbuja is pursuing it with vigor, because, we know this is one of the issues to address to make our university one of the best in Nigeria.

“As I speak now, there are several investigations ongoing by a committee set up, addressing the problem,’’ he told NAN.

The VC said that the university was working round the clock to make sure the institution become number one in Nigeria, adding that ”the best way is to improve on academics of the student.

“We are trying to provide all the facilities that the students need, for instance, the smart classrooms, internet facilities on campus and other areas.’’

Na-Allah further said that the Centre for Distance …

Basket Ball / Sports

Steph Curry, Warriors use gigantic 3rd quarter to blowout Celtics, even series

Stephen Curry didn’t play in the fourth quarter – and didn’t need to.

The Golden State Warriors routed the Boston Celtics 107-88 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals to even the series 1-1. Curry had 29 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals to help Golden State bounce back from a Game 1 loss and take the even series back to the East Coast.

“They said we needed to play with desperation, that’s what we did. Good feeling to get back on track and now we got to take it on the road,” Curry told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game.

The Warriors used a 35-point third quarter to seal Game 2. Golden State ended the quarter on a 16-2 run in the final 4:17.

Jordan Poole would nail a 39-foot three-pointer to put Golden State up 87-64 heading into the fourth and it was more than the Warriors could’ve asked for.

Curry said their third quarter in Game 2 was just like in Game 1, they just played better defensively. He said making it difficult for guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown “carries over to the rest of the game.”

“Our third quarter was great. We got enough separation… the fourth quarter was a little bit easier tonight.”

Boston was 4-for-17 from the field and only scored 14 points in the third.

Tatum and Brown were the only two Boston starters who finished in double figures in scoring. Tatum had 28 points and Brown had 17 points. Derrick White was the only other player to have double digits in scoring, finishing with 12 points.

Curry got scoring help from Poole, who had 17 off the bench. Kevon Looney added 12 points and seven rebounds. Andrew Wiggins had 11 points and six rebounds.

Draymond Green had nine points, seven assists and five rebounds. Curry praised Green for his presence on the defensive side of the floor.

“He was just being himself. Finding different ways to impact the game on both sides of the floor,” Curry said. “Sometimes …

Sports / Tennis

Rafael Nadal wins record-extending 14th French Open title with straight-sets victory against Casper Ruud

After a year-long hiatus, the “King of Clay” reigns once more in Paris.

Rafael Nadal claimed a record-extending 14th title at the French Open as he defeated Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-3 6-3 6-0.

The Spaniard dominated Sunday’s final and won 11 consecutive games across the second and third sets to wrap up a 22nd grand slam title — two ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the top of the men’s all-time list.

The victory also means the 36-year-old Nadal, who won his first French Open title 17 years ago, becomes the oldest men’s singles champion at Roland Garros.

“For me personally, it’s very difficult to describe the feelings that I have,” Nadal said in his on-court interview after the game. “It’s something that I for sure never believed I’d be here at 36, being competitive again, playing in the most important court of my career one more final — it means a lot to me.”

It was a case of the master against the apprentice at Roland Garros on Sunday with Ruud, who has trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca since 2018 and admired Nadal when he progressed through the tennis ranks, appearing in his first grand slam final.

But the 23-year-old was outclassed by Nadal in what was the first time the two had faced each other.

Having led 3-1 at the start of the second set, Ruud saw the contest slip away from him and failed to register a game in the final set.

He later paid tribute to Nadal, saying in his on-court interview: “We all know what a champion you are and today I got to feel how it is to play against you in the final. It’s not easy and I’m not the first victim — I know that there have been many before.”

Nadal was defeated by Djokovic in the semifinals of last year’s French Open — ending a run of four consecutive titles — but defeated his rival in the quarters this year before a walkover against Alexander Zverev

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Tennis

Nadal outlasts rival in thrilling 2022 French Open quarterfinal match

In the 10th meeting between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, the “King of Clay” emerged victorious.

Nadal outlasted world men’s No. 1 Djokovic in four sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4), in a quarterfinal match that lasted 4 hours and 12 minutes.

Nadal got out to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreaker, but Djokovic worked his way back to a 6-4 deficit. On the decisive point, Nadal worked Djokovic far to his right with a backhand to set up a backhand winner down the left side that sent Nadal to the semifinals. That fourth set originally seemed destined to go to Djokovic. The top seed got off to a 3-0 lead and then held a 5-2 advantage. But the world’s No. 5 player tied the set with three straight wins and forced the tiebreaker two games later

Djokovic claimed the French Open title in 2021, only his second win in the tournament. During that run, he defeated Nadal in the semifinals, ending the King of Clay’s streak of four straight French Open victories.

Nadal will face No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev in the French Open semifinals.

The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from the 59th meeting between two of the best players in the history of tennis. Follow along for results from the match.

Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal score

	1	2	3	4
(1) Novak Djokovic	2	6	2	6 (4)
(5) Rafael Nadal	6	4	6	6 (7)

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Entertainment / News

Comedian D.L. Hughley calls out Mo’Nique over contract dispute

Hughley took to Instagram on Sunday with some choice words for Mo’Nique in response to her public call out while on The Comedy Explosion stage at the Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

The comedian/actor blasted Mo’Nique over her beef with industry folks including Tyler Perry, Oprah and Lee Daniels, the director of ‘Precious’, the film that got her an Academy award in the supporting actress category. Hughley wrapped his shade by comparing her to the abusive role she played in the 2009 film.

“All you have to do is check the order of names on the ticket stub from last night and you’ll see who’s confused. Against my better judgment, over the objections of my team and 4 other occasions where I said NO, I decided to take a chance and work with Monique,” the comedian wrote.

“Oprah was the problem, Tyler Perry was the problem, Charlamagne was the problem, Steve Harvey was the problem, Lee Daniels was the problem, Netflix was the problem… Now it’s MY turn,” he continued. “At some point it can’t be everyone else, IT’S YOU!! Lesson learned. I didn’t have anything personal against Monique… People paid a lot of money to laugh, not hear about your contract. Apparently, the role you played in PRECIOUS turned out to be an autobiography. I wonder who’s next…”

Both comedians were billed to perform at The Comedy Explosion show on Saturday night (May 28). While on stage, Mo’Nique had called out Hughley, claiming she was due to headline but was denied the shot over a disagreement in her contract.

Mo’Nique further claimed Hughley made comments about her and chose the spotlight as the perfect time to bring it up. In the viral video, the actress is filmed saying: “What kind of real n#### would ever attack a got damned black woman?”

She then said that she felt bad for his wife, “N#### your name is D.L., what the f### does it stand for?” Further, implying his initials hint at him being secretly

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Movies / News

Stephanie Linus and husband welcome 2nd child

The movie star shared the big news via her Instagram page on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. “A Princely Arrival With thanksgiving and gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we are delighted to share with you the announcement of the birth of our second son whose arrival has immersed us with unspeakable joy,” she wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephanie Linus (@stephanielinus)

“Indeed, the Lord has blessed us beyond measure and our hearts are filled with eternal gratitude. Glory be to His name. Stephanie & Linus.”

Congratulations to the couple from all of us at Pulse.

Stephanie and Linus are one of the most influential celebrity couples in the country.

History will not forget their flamboyant wedding ceremony that took place in Paris in 2012.

The wedding was attended by close friends, family and scores of movie stars.

The ceremony was officiated by popular Nigerian pastor, Johnson Suleman.

The couple welcomed their first child, Maxwell Enosata Linus, in 2015.

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Movies / News

You can’t win with the Nigerian audience – Biodun Stephen laments

In an Instagram post shared on Sunday, May 29, 2022, the filmmaker shared the near-impossibility of satisfying the Nigerian audience.

“When you tell comedic stories, they complain…e no just make sense. When you tell juju stories; see how they are projecting us. When you tell romance stories, this love no dey realistic. When you tell dad human angle stories; Abeg nobody wan dey cry. When you tell stories to just entertain; which kain nanzenze be this; when you tell dramatic stories; too dry sef…” Stephen wrote.

“With the Nigerian audience, you can’t get it right, you can’t win. So dear filmmaker or actor; put your best foot forward, and know with ya chest say you gave the film your all,” the director continued.

While it is unclear what inspired the rant, two of the filmmaker’s films – ‘The Wildflowers’ and ‘Strangers’ are currently in cinemas.

Both directed by Stephen, ‘The Wildflower’ premiered last weekend and has so far made N11 million in box office while ‘Strangers’ is getting set for a Houston, Texas premiere this June.

Starring notable talents including Zubby Michael, Toyin Abraham, Deyemi Okonlawon, and Lateef Adedimeji respectively, the titles released in cinemas weeks apart.

Meanwhile, Stephen is reportedly back on set filming a new season of ‘Picture Perfect’ series for Iroko TV.

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Music / News

Tems gets second US Platinum Plaque with Future’s ‘Wait For U’

The announcement means that Nigerian sensation Tems who is featured on the record alongside Canadian rapper Drake will receive her second US certification.

Tems received her first Platinum plaque in October 2021 when ‘Essence’ crossed the one million sales mark.

Since achieving international fame with the success of ‘Essence,’ Tems has been featured on the albums of global superstars Drake and his long-term collaborator Future.

With her second platinum plaque, Tems will be joining Wizkid as the only other Nigerian artist with two US platinum plaques. Wizkid achieved the feat by featuring on Drake’s global hit ‘One Dance’ and his smash international hit ‘Essence’ featuring Tems.

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Law / Movies / News

Court nullifies NBC’s amended code

The court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday May 26, declared the proposed code illegal, null and void and ‘ultra vires’

According to the court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, the NBC does not have the power to “prohibit exclusivity on and compel sub-licensing of privately acquired rights to television content as such is against the constitution and the copyright act.”

Recall that the controversial amendment was heavily criticized by notable filmmakers and Nollywood influencers.

IrokoTV boss Jason Njoku tweeted: “Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in making exclusivity illegal, compelling sub-licensing of content and regulating price, are effectively turning private enterprise in state property. Interference distorts markets. If implemented, this 100% destroys PayTV in Nigeria.”

The lawsuit nullifying the code was filed by filmmaker Femi Davies who claimed that the Code violates his intellectual property rights.

Davies argued that if allowed, the amendment would destabilize the growth of content making industries and discourage true craft.

The NBC, on the other hand, insisted that the amendment was done in a bid to initiate growth and to protect “local operators, promote creativity and maximize local content via the anti-trust provisions contained in the amendment.”

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News / politics

I’ll step down if APC says so — Pastor Bakare at screening venue

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said he will step down from the 2023 race if his party so demands.

Bakare spoke on Monday with newsmen in Abuja at the venue of the screening of presidential aspirants of the APC.

On Monday, the screening committee, headed by former National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, screened former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi; Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru; and former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba. Others also screened were Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; Felix Nicholas; Senator Ajayi Borroffice; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Uju Ken-Ohaneye; and former Governor of Zamfara State, Sani Yerima. Bakare told newsmen: “The party supremacy is the utmost essence.

“You cannot force your way through a party’s structure.

“The party has the final say.

“And when we get to that bridge, we will know how to cross it.

“The screening exercise is to check who is guilty and who is not.

“And it depends on the people, who are doing the screening.

“By God’s grace, we have complied with everything demanded for.

“We have supplied every information.

“And every information given is accurate and there is no miscommunication anywhere.

“Therefore, we will listen to what they have to say to us.

“And we trust God for accurate answers and deserving answers to all questions.”

On her part, the only female aspirant, Ken-Ohaneye, also said she would step down if the party asked her to do so, provided the party would be willing to carry on with her economic blueprints.

She said: “I want you to know that we are a family politically, and if I am asked by the party to step down, I will not challenge the party, because, like they say, charity begins at home.

“I will never see it as a problem to my party, because I am going to …

News / politics

After a call by Peter Obi, Reno Omokri apologises to him for criticism

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has apologised to a former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 elections, Peter Obi.

Omokri’s apology followed his criticism of the two-term Governor on Arise TV over his decision to join Labour Party.

Obi had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for Labour Party last week.

He then emerged the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Asaba, Delta State on Monday. Omokri has on Arise TV described Obi as opportunistic.

However, he has retracted his criticism.

Writing on his Twitter handle on Sunday, Omokri tweeted: “I have just spoken to @PeterObi.

“I apologise for my comments on AriseTV, and Peter told me to inform the public that certain persons on Twitter and other social media, who have alienated him from so many, do not speak for him or his campaign.

“He will also be tweeting a statement.

“Actually, @PeterObi called me.

“I did not call him.

“I am tagging him.

“I apologised.

“He publicly took the advise I gave and made a PUBLIC appeal to you, his followers, to desist from alienating him from his friends.

“Please allow this issue rest.

“God bless you.”…

News / politics

Most of those around Atiku have no political value — Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said most of those surrounding the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, have no political value.

So also did Wike complain that there was an agenda to turn some Nigerians into second class citizens in their country.

Wike said these and more, according to a statement by his Media Aide, Kelvin Ebri, at a reception for him on his return to Rivers State after the presidential primaries of the PDP, which he lost to Atiku by 237 votes to 371 votes.

He said he was disappointed that some Southern governors acted contrary to their agreement before the primaries. He said it was the agreement of the governors of southern Nigeria that the presidency should come to the South, and he did not betray that agreement.

He described as shameful the inability of some of those who were part of the agreement to stick to the agreement when it mattered.

He said at the reception in Port Harcourt, the state capital: “I contested in an election (primary) based on the principle and agreement with all southern governors and leaders of the South that presidency should go to the South this period.

“We have done our part. We never betrayed anybody because it is not in our blood to betray. But it is a shame to those people, some of the governors from the South, they are the people that were used to sabotage our course.

“Look at a region ganged up, then you, your region cannot gang up. You became tools to be used against the interest of your people, and you think you have won, you have lost.

“You will continue to be perpetual slaves. Rivers people, you don’t need to bother yourselves. The PDP needs us. If they say they don’t need us, they should wait.

“The winner (of the ticket) also saw it. They underrated us, but now, they will not underrate us again. We have all it takes to do whatever we want to do.

“It …

Basket Ball / Sports

Boston Celtics survive wild Miami Heat comeback to win Game 7, advance to NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics held on for dear life against the relentless Miami Heat in Game 7 and survived.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart — the core of a team that had lost two previous chances together to win the Eastern Conference finals — combined for 74 points in a 100-96 victory to advance to the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Boston won for the third time in four games in Miami.

“The road that we took to get here, not a lot of people believed in us,” Tatum said on the court after slaying Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami in successive rounds. “We took the toughest route, and it worked out.”

Tatum won the NBA’s first-ever Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP award after scoring 26 points in Sunday’s win-or-go-home game. Brown and Smart each added 24. The trio also combined for 25 rebounds and 17 assists. Al Horford grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked a pair of shots in a dominant defensive effort.

“We stayed with it. We believed in each other. We made a commitment on the defensive end,” Horford, who reached the Finals for the first time in 141 playoff games, said as he accepted his team’s trophy. “That was the biggest thing, defending, and that was going to be our identity — and that’s what’s carried us this far.”

Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, playing all 48 minutes for the Heat in defeat. Bam Adebayo added 25 points. Miami’s two bright stars shot 56% from the field. Their teammates had 36 points on 28% shooting.

Once the Celtics took a 98-85 lead with 3:35 remaining, the Heat rallied on an 11-0 run, and Butler saw a wide-open transition 3-point attempt that would have given them their first lead with 16 seconds left, but he fired it off the front rim. Smart connected on a pair of free throws on the other end to prevent a collapse.

The Celtics pushed the pace in the first quarter and played lockdown defense, taking a 32-17 advantage with …

Football / Sports

Thibaut Courtois’ clutch saves cement Real Madrid’s UCL winning pedigree

Real Madrid might not be leaving the French capital with Kylian Mbappe in their luggage but they are taking a 14th UEFA Champions League trophy home with them after a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Stade de France on Saturday.

Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark, but the Saint-Denis spectacle was unfortunately marred by the chaotic scenes of supporters unable to enter the venue in time for kickoff with questions already being asked by the Reds.

As finals go, it was far from pretty and the atmosphere was deflated further once it became clear that there were major issues going on in and around the stadium and it was an opportunistic Real who came out on top thanks to a Thibaut Courtois masterclass between the sticks. Karim Benzema had a first-half strike disallowed for offside after a VAR check but Vinicius’ effort from a Federico Valverde assist just before the hour was Los Blancos’ only shot on target over the 90 minutes as the Spanish giants somehow kept Liverpool at bay.

Jurgen Klopp’s men created plenty with nearly double figures in terms of efforts on target, but they found Courtois in inspired form and the Belgium international once again showed his value for Carlo Ancelotti’s side as he earned his UCL crown.

“Back in England, I do not get enough respect,” said Courtois after the final whistle. “So, well, I showed it today. I wanted to put some respect on my name there.”

Courtois’ nine saves on the night were the most on record since 2003-04 by any keeper in a single Champions League final, according to Opta. Liverpool won the xG battle 2.14 to 0.88 but came away empty-handed due to Courtois’ heroics.

Whether or not Real’s is a valid approach long-term given their ageing squad and inability to truly dominate opponents remains to be seen, but their failure to land Mbappe means that any planned summer rebuild will need to be reconsidered.

Based on this performance, the French superstar would not …

News / politics

48 hours to APC presidential primary: Another shift likely over absence of screening, convention committee

Uncertainty trailing conduct of the special convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate its presidential candidate for the 2023 general election is giving party members anxious moments as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline draws nearer.

The Guardian gathered yesterday that there are strong indications that the party may further alter the convention date, which is originally scheduled for May 29 to 30. This came to the fore as the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) is yet to constitute convention planning committees as at 5p.m. yesterday, as it was the case, in both 2014 and 2018 where Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State headed both conventions that produced President Buhari as the party’s candidate.

Also, about 72 hours to the exercise, the ruling party is yet to screen its presidential aspirants, who have purchased and returned their expression of interest and nomination forms.

The development may not be unconnected with the party’s inability to settle for either the direct, indirect or consensus modes of selecting its standard bearer.

As at Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Governor Atiku Bagudu-led Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and the NWC have yet to come up with a definite position on how to resolve the issue relating to the selection of a presidential candidate.

Besides, the decision by the party to reschedule the conduct of its governorship, House of Assemblies, Senate and House of Representatives primaries between Thursday and Saturday after several postponements may have been responsible for the delay.

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News / politics

Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Zulum, others pick APC second term ticket

It was the turn of All Progressives Congress (APC), delegates yesterday, to exercise their mandate of choosing governorship candidates across the country, a day after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conducted theirs.

In Lagos State, delegates defied the rain at the Onikan Stadium (Mobolaji Johnson Arena) to elect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as their candidate for next year’s election.

Even though there were three aspirants for the primary, including Mr Wale Oluwo and Mustapha Olorunfemi, only the governor attended the exercise.

According to sources, the other two were not allowed into the venue because they were not cleared at the national level.

Sanwo-Olu arrived at 12:50 p.m. and thereafter, accreditation and voting commenced. In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi and state executive council members, among others.

The total number of delegates announced by the chairman of the Lagos APC gubernatorial electoral committee, Adamu Shettima Yuguda, was 1,225 from 245 wards across 20 local councils. The total number of accredited delegates was 1,198.

At the end of the primary, Sanwo-Olu scored 1,170 votes, though he was unopposed while 12 votes were invalidated.

While declaring Sanwo-Olu as the winner, Yuguda thanked the delegates for their patience. He also reiterated that out of the three aspirants that collected forms, only one was cleared while two were disqualified from Abuja.

In his address, Sanwo-Olu said: “As God answered us today, it is going to happen to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu between Sunday and Monday.”

Oluwo, after the exercise, alleged fraud in the Lagos APC delegates list.

According to Oluwo, the delegates were those handpicked by one of the APC factions in the state through a sham delegates congress purportedly held in the 245 wards on May 18 and 19.

He said: “We note that the screening committee, which was inaugurated by the APC National Headquarters to screen all governorship aspirants in Lagos, has refused to publish the results of the exercise as at the time of this press release. The approved Election …

Sports / Tennis

Halep experiences panic attack during French Open match

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep said she had a panic attack while leading her second-round match that she eventually lost at the French Open on Thursday.

The 2018 Roland Garros winner said she “lost it” and couldn’t regain focus while playing 19-year-old Qinwen Zheng, who won 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 at Court Simonne-Mathieu.

“I had a break in the second set, but then something happened. I just lost it,” the 30-year-old Romanian said in her post-match press conference. “It was just a panic attack. It happened. I didn’t know how to handle it because I don’t have it often.”

Halep, the 2019 Wimbledon champion, had already amassed 20 wins this season and had beaten 74th-ranked Zheng in January.

Halep said she likely put too much pressure on herself.“It’s something normal that everybody has. I will be better next time, for sure. I don’t have these things so it was new for me,” she said.

Halep said she was assured by doctors that she’s OK physically.

“After the match was pretty tough. But now, I’m good. I’m recovered, and I will learn from this episode.”

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Author: Swift Wave Reporter

Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal score