A major showdown may occur today, Monday, in Ilorin, Kwara State as G15, a group of All Progressives Congress members, aggrived with the outcome of the recent party primaries in the state have dared Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to stop their planned mega rally in the state capital.

DAILY POST gathered authoritatively that the G15 in the state APC, comprising stakeholders, leaders, aggrieved aspirants in the governorship, national and state assemblies primaries had earlier scheduled their rally for Sunday but were outsmarted by the loyalists in the governor’s camp who hurriedly organized their rally on the same day.

The G15 group was forced to postpone its rally for security reasons to avoid possible breakdown of law and order.

However, barely hours after the governor’s camp’s rally, the G15 issued a statement titled “Nothing can stop Monday, tomorrow’s rally”, accusing the governor of alleged plans to frustrate their solidarity walk in the state capital.

The statement read in part, “the G15 Coalition, a formidable bloc within the Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) comprising the stakeholders, aspirants and leaders of thought in the party, has issued an unyielding response to fresh allegations that the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is orchestrating a desperate plot to sabotage the coalition’s rescheduled solidarity rally fixed for Monday.

“We have been informed that the Governor, in a last-minute move fuelled by palpable fear, is planning a parallel show of strength—a hastily arranged “thank-you visit” to the Emir’s Palace, deliberately timed to clash with our peaceful procession. 

“This is nothing but a transparent act of political desperation from a man who has suddenly found himself in the minority within his own party.

“It is laughable and frankly pitiful, that a sitting Governor would resort to panic-driven tactics to counter a gathering of party faithful who are exercising their fundamental rights to assemble and express solidarity. 

“The G15 is not a threat to Kwara’s peace; we are the conscience of the APC in this state. The Governor’s alleged move to pay Kwarans to boycott our rally just as earlier done on Sunday exposes his deep-seated fear of the massive outpouring of support that awaits us.

“We have reliably gathered that agents of the Governor have been dispatched to corners of the state, offering financial inducements to civil servants, market women, and youth groups to stay away from the G15 rally, while simultaneously mobilising paid crowds to create a fabricated spectacle of popularity at the Emir’s Palace. 

“This is an insult to the intelligence of Kwarans and a sad commentary on the state of leadership in our beloved state.”

The G15 declared unequivocally that nothing would stop the rally, stressing “Not threats. Not intimidation. Not financial inducements from the government treasury.

“The G15 is driven by the will of the people, and the people of Kwara State are fed up with a leadership that has lost touch with its base.

“Governor AbdulRazaq cannot buy his way out of the reckoning that is coming. He cannot counter genuine grassroots support with rented crowds and state-sponsored mobilisation.”

The group called on the state Police Command and other security agencies to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties.

“Our rally is a peaceful expression of solidarity and a celebration of the democratic ideals that bind us as members of the APC. We will not be provoked, we will not be cowed, and we will not be silenced,” it stated. 

The G15 urged Kwarans to come out today, Monday, in their numbers and show the governor that no amount of blackmail or bribery can diminish the people’s resolve as it stands for inclusion, fairness, and true internal democracy. 

“We are the future of this party, and we will not be intimidated by a desperate empire fighting to retain its fading grip on power,” it further declared.

The technical director of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Sefiya Onubaye has reeled out many advantages of what he described as a very good step by the country in arranging a ‘final training camp’ ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Weightlifting Federation Technical Director Provides Details Of Pre-Commonwealth Games Training Camp

Sports247 reports that Onubaye was full of excitement and awe when he touched down with the first batch of Nigeria’s weightlifters for this year’s Games and disclosed that they would immediately commence training in Aberdeen.

Onubaye added that facilities seen at the country’s final training base in Aberdeen were top-notch, which he believes will enhance the lifters’ abilities, as they intensify preparations for the Games in Glasgow, which are scheduled to hold from July 23rd to August 2nd.

The first batch of weightlifters who arrived along with Onubaye in Aberdeen on Saturday morning comprised Didih Onome (women’s 53kg), Rafiat Lawal (women’s 58kg), Osijo Taiwo (women’s 86kg), Favour Agboro (men’s 65kg) and Edidiong Umoafia Joseph (men’s 71kg).

They will be joined early this week by Ruth Nyong Asuquo (women’s 48kg), Ruth Ayodele (women’s 63kg), Islamiyat Yusuf (women’s 69kg), Opadeji Adedapo (men’s 79kg) and NWF’s head coach Luke Ibe, to complete the contingent of nine lifters and two tacticians.

Onubaye disclosed further that the weightlifters had all concluded the first phase of their preparations on July 1st, and they are now determined to fine-tune their build-up in Aberdeen, where he promised they will not waste any time in adapting to the new environment and equipment.

The technical buff added in an interview with NWF Media, “We thank God for bringing us safely to Aberdeen. The athletes are in good spirits and we will begin training almost immediately. This final camping phase is very important.

“It gives our lifters the opportunity to get used to the equipment and training conditions they will compete with at the Commonwealth Games. Our focus is to ensure that every athlete is fully prepared and ready to perform at their best.”