These are the stories that drove the conversation today:

Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola has been declared winner of the Osun All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship primary, ahead of the September 22 election in the state.

Oyetola, Governor Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff since 2010, polled  127,017 votes  to defeat his closest rival Yusuf Lasun, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who scored 21,975 votes and 12 others.

The results of the direct primary conducted in 332 wards across the state, was announced by Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege at about 10:45 pm on Friday at the party’s secretariat in Osogbo.

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Seven of the eleven governorship aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to take part in Saturday’s (today) primary election announced their withdrawal from the exercise held in Osogbo.

The aspirants who announced their withdrawal from the primary; Adejare Bello, former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Prof. Adeolu Durotoye, Jide Adeniji, Sen. Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Mr Ayoade Adewopo, Lere Oyewumi and Felix Ogunwale said they stepped down from the race due to appeal from the party’s leadership and also to ensure cohesion within the party.

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Following accusations by the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, that the police shot at his convoy on his way to inaugurate a project at his constituency on Thursday in Kogi, the lawmaker has said he will honour the invitation by the police.

Speakng in an interview with Channels Television on Saturday, Melaye said: “The account of the police is false and illogical, “I will honour the invitation of the Kogi State Police Command on Thursday, despite the attempts on my life.”

The Police had earlier denied the attack and accused some persons in his convoy of attacking their personnel in Kogi and invited the lawmaker for questioning over his allegations.

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Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom has said he would soon reveal his decision concerning his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor who spoke with newsmen on Saturday at the Government  House, Makurdi, said he has plans to consult stakeholders in the state before making public the next move regarding his membership of the APC, adding that he would obey the wishes of Benue people on the matter.

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One person was feared dead and 20 others sustained various degree of injuries in an accident involving the motorcade of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Gombe State Marshal, a local security outfit, Sunday Jika,who was in the minister’s motorcade confirmed this to newsmen on Saturday in Gombe.

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And stories from around the world:

Russia’s foreign minister told his U.S. counterpart on Saturday that a woman arrested in the United States on accusations she was a Russian agent had been detained on “fabricated charges” and should be released. (Reuters)

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US President Donald Trump on Saturday slammed his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen, saying he may have acted illegally in secretly taping their discussion about payments to a former Playboy model over an alleged affair. (AFP)

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Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for racial unity ahead of landmark elections, telling white farmers their lands will not be taken.

Mnangagwa (75), told a crowd in Harare that the controversial policy was a thing of the past. (BBC)

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday it would be an “obvious mistake” to negotiate with the United States as Washington was unreliable. (Reuters)

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Three French policemen are being questioned for allegedly leaking security footage of an incident in which a presidential aide beat up a demonstrator in May, French media say. (BBC)