Ripples are trailing the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in states as results trickled in last night, Daily Trust reports.
Reports from our correspondents revealed that the exercise was relatively peaceful in most of the states, except for the reservations expressed by some of the aspirants who were edged out of the race.
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The exercise, Daily Trust reports was conducted to elect the candidates of the leading opposition party for the 2023 governorship elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct governorship elections for 29 of the 36 states of the federation next year. The remaining eight states are now off-circle elections.
There was confusion in Bauchi State as the name of the state Governor, Bala Mohammed, who has been moving round the country campaigning for the presidency, appeared on the ballot paper for the governorship primaries.
Daily Trust reports that Mohammed is one of the 15 presidential aspirants of the PDP cleared by the screening committee of the party. The primary has been fixed for Saturday / Sunday in Abuja.
Ex-SSG emerges ‘winner’
The former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim emerged unopposed as PDP governorship candidate. There were allegations that Kashim is holding the position for the governor.
But the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam, said the governor’s name appeared in error.
In Jigawa State, Mustapha, the son of Sule Lamido, a former governor of the state clinched the ticket. The Returning Officer, Bar. Isa Ayounger announced that Lamido won with 829 votes to the zero votes polled by a one-time Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Sale Shehu Hadejia.
But the victory did not come without drama as the defeated aspirant had earlier raised issues with the grand entrance into the venue of the primaries at the Dutse Stadium, amidst pomp.
The younger Lamido had entered the venue together with his father and another former governor of the state, Saminu Turaki, who is a senatorial candidate of the party.
In his acceptance speech, Lamido, 39, said he was overwhelmed by the outcome of the poll.
Daily Trust reports that a major challenger of Lamido, Bashir Adamu earlier announced his withdrawal from the race.
Uba emerges flag bearer in Benue
Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba, on Wednesday emerged as the governorship flagbearer after polling 731 votes to defeat incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Benson Abounu who scored 81 votes.
Our correspondent reports that delegates from across the state’s 23 LGAs participated in the election at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, the state capital.
Uba had earlier emerged as the PDP’s consensus aspirant from the 14 Tiv speaking LGA’s while the state’s deputy governor had emerged consensus candidate from the remaining nine Idoma speaking LGA’s.
Ex-VC picks ticket in Abia as Abaribe, 6 others quit race
In Abia, a former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu. Prof. Uche Eleazar Ikonne polled a total of 468 votes to clinch the ticket of the PDP.
Ikonne defeated his closest rival Lucky Igbokwe who polled 45 votes and Ezenwanyi Ngozi Jonah who got 5 votes.
However, seven governorship aspirants including the Deputy Governor, Ude Okochukwu, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Enyinnaya Nwafor, Ncheta Omerekpa, Chima Anyaso, Samson Orji and Emma Nwaka pulled out of the race, citing impunity and imposition of what they called “imaginary 3-man ad hoc delegates.”
The result was announced by a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who was the returning officer.
Barde clinches Gombe ticket
In Gombe, Muhammad Jibril Barde was yesterday declared as the winner of the PDP primary.
The returning officer and Chairman of PDP governorship primaries, Mr Mike Oghiadomhe, said Barde, polled 160 votes to defeat his close rival and second runner up, Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, who scored 119 votes.
Other contestants, AVM Adamu Shehu Usman (rtd) got 18 votes, Dr Abubakar Ali Gombe, 17 votes, Dr Babayo Ardo Kumo scored 13 votes, while Dr Gimba Ya’u Kumo got only one vote.
Dan Barde as he is popularly called is the founder and former managing director and chief executive officer of Sun Trust Bank.
He was the first runner-up in the 2018 gubernatorial primary election that produced Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya as the APC’s candidate for the 2019 gubernatorial election.
Ombugadu wins in Nasarawa
David Ombugadu, a former House of Representatives member has been declared the winner of the exercise in Nasarawa State.
Mr Bature Musa, who declared Ombugadu the winner of the primary election held in Nasarawa LGA, said the former lawmaker scored 247 votes to defeat his closet rival General Nuhu Angbazo (Rtd) who pulled 203 votes.
In an interview with newsmen, Ombugadu appreciated God for the victory and promised to ensure that PDP emerge victorious in the general elections.
Our correspondent had earlier reported that Mr Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information withdrew from the contest during the process.
Wike’s AG, Fubara wins
The Rivers State Accountant General, Fubara Siminialayi has emerged as the governorship candidate of the PDP.
There were a total of 16 aspirants who contested for the ticket of the party after a series of stakeholders meetings and consultations led by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike failed to reach a consensus.
Siminialayi who hails from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of the state, pulled 721 votes out of total votes cast of 890 to emerge the overall winner.
Jajari, Abdu, Agbu win in Borno, Yobe, Taraba
Alhaji Ali Mohammed Jajari has won the Borno State PDP gubernatorial primary. Jajari scored 487 votes to defeat Mohammed Imam who scored 362 votes in a keenly contested election.
In Yobe, Sheriff Abdu picked the ticket while Colonel Kefas Agbu (rtd) clinched it in PDP in Taraba State.
Ekweremadu, 7 others kick as Nnamani’s ex-aide wins in Enugu
A former Chief of Staff to former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Mr Peter Mba, has emerged winner of the PDP governorship primaries in the state.
However, prior to voting during the primaries, eight of the aspirants, including former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu withdrew from the exercise.
Other aspirants who announced their withdrawals were Messrs Chukwudi Nneji, Kingsley Udeh, Erasmus Anike, Nwabueze Ugwu, Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye, Onyekwere Nnaji, Beloved-Dan Anike and Gabriel Ajah.
The Chairman of the PDP Governorship Primaries Electoral Committee in the state, Sen. Zik Sunday, who declared the result, described the process as “transparent, credible and peaceful.”
Anointed candidate wins in Akwa Ibom
The anointed candidate of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Pastor Umo Eno, has emerged as the winner of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State. Eno polled 993 votes, out of the 1,018 accredited delegates to defeat 13 other contestants in the election held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North East senatorial district, Senator Bassey Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom North East) and the member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Mr Onofiok Luke, who had earlier announced a boycott of the election, had one and three votes respectively.
Fintiri, Makinde get return tickets
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
Chairman of the PDP governorship primary committee, Chief Barr Gebon Kataps, said Fintiri scored 663 votes out of the 668 accredited votes while five votes had been invalidated.
The governor emerged unopposed after the party disqualified Ambassador Jamil Abubakar Waziri. The latter has instituted a case in an Abuja court challenging his disqualification.
Similarly, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde was yesterday elected as the candidate of the PDP for the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Announcing the result of the primary on behalf of the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Ben Obi, the Secretary of the committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Maibasira, said Makinde polled 1,040 to defeat his challenger and a former Deputy Governor, Barr Azeem Gbolarunmi, who polled two votes.
It was observed that before the arrival of the governor, hoodlums chased out some members of the party who were not in his camp.
Parallel primaries in Kano
In Kano, the crisis rocking the party further affected the smooth conduct of the primaries on Wednesday as parallel primary elections were conducted. In Katsina, the exercise also suffered a delay in commencement with party delegates still waiting for the commencement of voting at the time of filing this report.
Daily Trust reports that the exercise, which was postponed in Niger and Imo States will now hold today. Elections were ongoing in Kaduna and Kwara States at the time this story was filled.
Gusau pulls out, backs Dauda Lawal
In Zamfara State, the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau on Wednesday announced his withdrawal from the PDP governorship race.
He, however, declared his support for one of the contestants, Dauda Lawal Dare and urged his supporters to vote for the former banker.
Jandor emerges in Lagos
Convener of Lagos4Lagos Movement, Alhaji Abdullateef Adejare Adediran popularly known as Jandor, has won the PDP governorship primary in Lagos.
Adediran in the primary polled 679 to defeat his opponent, Dacova David Kolawole who scored 20 votes out of the 709 votes cast at the poll.
By Mohammed Abubakar (Dutse), Salim U. Ibrahim & Aminu Naganye (Kano), Lami Sadiq (Kaduna), Hope A. Emmanuel (Makurdi), Abubakar Akote (Minna), Mumini AbdulKareem (Ilorin), Jeremiah Oke (Ibadan), Linus Effiong (Umuahia), Peter Moses (Abeokuta), Jude A. Owuamanam (Owerri), Iniabasi Umo (Uyo), Haruna G. Yaya (Gombe), Kabiru R. Anwar (Yola), Umar Muhammed (Lafia), Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt), Hassan Ibrahim (Maiduguri), Ibrahim B. Saleh (Damaturu), Magaji I. Hunkuyi (Jalingo), Ahmed Mohammed, (Bauchi), Abdullateef Aliyu & Eugene Agha (Lagos)
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