3 Governors, two deputy govs, 15 big winners, losers of PDP Primaries

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is currently conducting its legislative primary elections across the country.

However, results have started trickling in. As expected, there are winners and losers. In this piece, Daily Trust highlights some of the persons who clinched the tickets and those who suffered setback.

• IPOB’s sit-at-home forces PDP to shift primaries in South East
• Drama as senator who lost reelection ticket storms out of primaries venue

THE WINNERS

ORTOM

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State won the PDP ticket to contest for a seat in the senate. He will fly the PDP flag in the Benue north-west senatorial district election in 2023. Ortom clinched the party’s senatorial ticket unchallenged. He was first elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in 2015 but was re-elected in 2019 on the PDP platform.

DANKWAMBO

A former governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo, also won the ticket to represent the PDP in the Gombe North Senatorial District poll in the 2023 elections. Dankwambo emerged the winner of the exercise after Bayero Nafada, a former deputy speaker of the house of representatives, and Hamma Saleh withdrew from the race. He was the governor of Gombe state from 2011 to 2019.

ISHAKU

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State also secured the PDP ticket to contest the Taraba South Senatorial District election. If he wins the election, Ishaku will join the league of governors who moved into the National Assembly at the end of 8 years as Chief Executive Officers of their states.

NWOKO

Billionaire businessman, Chinedu Nwoko, on Monday emerged as the party’s candidate for Delta North Senatorial District for the 2023 general election. He defeated his opponent, Paul Osaji, a business mogul, in the Senate Primary held in Asaba with 242 votes as against 67 votes polled by his opponent.

Nwoko, also known as Ned, the husband of Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, is a former member of the House of Representatives. He represented Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2003.

Nwoko had in 2019 contested the PDP Senate primary but lost to the incumbent, Peter Nwaoboshi, in a keenly contested election.

BANKY W

A Nigerian celebrity, Mr Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, was declared the winner of the PDP primary for the Eti-Osa constituency House of Representatives ticket in the 2023 general election. He polled 28 out of 31 votes cast by delegates at the primary.

In April, the music star announced on social media that he was once again aiming to represent the people of Eti-Osa Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

“We must engage with Nigeria where it is, not where we prefer for it to be. In 2019, we planted the seed. In 2023, by the grace of God, and with your support, we will win the seat. The time for just talking is over. It’s time to #TalkAndDo. I hope I can count on you. We move,” he had tweeted.

ABDULLAHI

Despite being in captivity, Sadiq Abdullahi, son of the Convener, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, emerged winner of the party’s primary election for Sabon Gari (Zaria) Federal constituency, Kaduna State.

The younger Abdullahi, who was among those abducted in the March 28 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train, is still in captivity contrary to recent reports that he was released by the terrorists.

BANIGO

Deputy Governor of Rivers, Dr Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, won the PDP ticket for the Rivers West Senatorial Primaries election. The Deputy Governor was returned unopposed in the PDP Senatorial primaries election conducted at the Rivers West Senatorial district in Ahoada on Monday. Senator George Thompson Sekibo who is presently representing the district in the Senate, did not contest the primaries.

MANU

Deputy Governor of Taraba, Engr Haruna Manu won the PDP’s ticket for the Taraba Central zone. Reacting to his victory, the deputy governor vowed not to let the people of his senatorial district down if finally given the mandate come 2023.

THE LOSERS

PAT ASADU

Asadu lost his bid to return to the House of Representatives in 2023, for the fifth time. The legislator representing Nsukka/Igboeze south federal constituency of Enugu State was defeated by Vita Abba, who won the contest with 91 votes.

FRED OBUA

The serving member of House of Representatives representing Ogbia Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State, Mr. Fred Obua, has lost his bid to return to the national assembly for a second tenure as he lost the primaries to the chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area, Ebiyon Marvin Turner.

Turner also defeated the incumbent member representing Ogbia Constituency 1, in the State House of Assembly, Chief Metema Obordor and the immediate past Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

NICHOLAS TOFOWOMO

The Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial district, Nicholas Tofowomo, suffered a setback in his bid to return to the upper legislative chamber on the PDP platform. He lost his return ticket to the former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi. Ajayi scored 78votes to beat Tofowomo who polled 74votes.

AYO AKINYELURE

A two-term Senator, Ayo Akinyelure, representing Ondo central senatorial district, also lost his seat to Ifedayo Adedipe. In the election held in Akure, the state capital, Akinyelure came second having polled 58 votes behind Mr Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN who scored 82 votes.

Mathew Uroghide

Senator Matthew Urhoghide, lawmaker representing Edo South Senatorial district, lost the 2023 ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, a former member of the House of Representatives. The two-term senator lost the election on Monday.

FRANCIS OTTAH AGBO

Francis Ottah Agbo who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo of Benue State constituency in the House of Representatives lost his bid to clinch PDP’s tickets in the primary elections of the party held on Sunday. Agbo lost to a female lawyer, Aida Ogwuche, who polled 71 votes against Agbo’s 35

PAM SOKPO

Pam Sokpo who represents Buruku constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives also lost his bid to clinch PDP’s tickets in the primary elections of the party. He was defeated by Terkaa Agba Terkaa.