LIVE UPDATES: Abubakar Audu buried. Sand poured into grave amidst tears

LIVE UPDATES: Abubakar Audu buried. Sand poured into grave amidst tears

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Candidate, Abubakar Audu, who died on Sunday while vote counting in the elections was still ongoing, would be buried in his hometown, Ogbonicha, today.

PREMIUM TIMES Reporter, Josiah Oluwole is in the village to witness the burial and is providing live updates from the community.

Live Blog

15.35

Gridlock as sympathisers and visitors depart. Motorists frustrated at street leading away from Ogbonicha, Audu's village.

Lucky Igbinedion and Rabiu Kwankwaso do the 3km trek as traffic snarl becomes more biting.

14.09

People are departing from grave site but a lot of sympathisers are still weeping profusely.

14.05

Suratul Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quoran has been rendered. Sympathisers dispersing.

13.59

Final prayers as Audu goes home.

13.50

Abubakar Audu buried. Now laid in grave as Imams offer prayers. Sands poured into grave amidst tears and sorrow.

13.47

Abubakar Audu not risen. Corpse set for Burial

13.39

Saminu Turaki and other APC leaders have arrived Ogbonicha in a helicopter.

13.19

Two young men engage in a fight over food.

Heavy security deployed at Audu's compound ahead of burial. The crowd here is insisting he is alive. ‎

Former governors George Akume, Abdulkadir Kure, Lucky Igbinidion and Rabiu Kwankwaso arrive, to pay homage. Dino Melaye has been with corpse since morning.

‎Dignitaries troop in to pay homage.

12.55

While jubilation over rumoured resurrection continues, burial is still fixed for 2.00 p.m. as grave diggers complete work.

12.40

The burial has been officially fixed for 2.00 P.M.

Imams retire to small mosque in compound as rejoicing continues however no one has confirmed seeing him.

Thousands troop into Ogbonicha as rumours of revival spreads. Rejoicing continues but Audu not in sight.

12.32

A mammoth crowd besieged the residence of the late Abubakar Audu as they await the corpse to be brought out of his room

‎Angry friends and relatives try banging hard at the door trying to force it open

‎Interesting twist as prophet seeks to pray for Audu's corpse and bring him back to life Security inside and family members would have none of it but angry youths break the door open

‎The prayer man has successfully been forcefully taken in by the wish of the crowd and they have all joined in the prayers for the resurrection of Audu with Holy Ghost fire renting the air as well as shouts of Allahu Akbar .

‎Dino Melaye and some family members came out through the back door to calm the angry crowd. While they are largely engaged in fervent prayers others are weeping loudly by the door

‎There is no word as to what the programme of burial is. No official word only a shut door and a waiting crowd Both Christians and muslims I meant to say

‎As men and women of faith engage in fervent prayers to bring Audu back to life others are digging his grave in one end of the compound

‎Uproar as news filters in that he has risen. No confirmation yet.

Grave diggers discouraged. Slow down work as people keep asserting that Audu is being revived.

‎Grave diggers redouble work as doubts spreads.

SOURCE: Premium Times NG