Leaders of political parties are trying their best to ensure free, fair and credible primaries to pick their governorship candidates. The Nation reports that the parties are rescheduling the exercise in some states to douse tension and buy time for the conduct of rancour –free primaries.
MORE governorship candidates emerged yesterday after the conduct of shadow polls by parties in states. Most of the candidates are of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But the APC rescheduled the exercise in some states to avoid post–primary crises. In other states, factions held parallel congresses, with the each announcing its standard bearer.
Aspirants, many, against their wishes, announced their withdrawal from the race. Some simply stayed away from venues of the primaries.
Stage set for Lagos primary today
Ambode, Sanwo-Olu in race for ticket
Ahead the rescheduled Lagos governorship primary today, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday received members of the panel deployed APC National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to conduct the shadow poll.
Receiving members of the Clement Ebri-led panel in his office at Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode urged them to do all within their power to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants in the contest.
Other members of the panel include: Ahmed Mahmud Gumel as Secretary; Mr. Nze Chidi Duru; Chief Clever Egbeji; Senator Clever Ikisikpo and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe.
The governor said it was important that the election, when conducted should be seen to be free, fair and credible to all aspirants concerned, adding that “it is only in such situation that democracy, which the party upholds is entrenched.”
Ambode will be jostling for the APC ticket with a former Commissioner for Establishment & Training Babajide Sanwo-Olu in today’s shadow poll.
The other challenger, former Works & Infrastructure Commissioner Dr. Obafemi Hamzat had withdrawn from the race at the weekend. He pledged support to Sanwo-Olu.
Expressing confidence in the selection of the panel’s members, Ambode said he has no doubt that the panel would live up to expectation and deliver a credible process, which according to him, will go a long way to determine the future of Nigeria and the greatness of Lagos in particular.
“This is a very star studded election team, they are distinguished Nigerians in their individual and collective rights.
“There can’t be any better collection of a team to any state election monitoring in this country than the distinguished personalities brought to Lagos and it only shows us the importance that the National chairman of our great party attaches to what is happening in Lagos.
Ebri said the panel deemed it fit to pay a courtesy visit to the governor as the number one citizen in the state and to also intimate him on the process for the conduct of the primaries.
He said: “As the number one citizen of Lagos, we felt obliged to come and see you particularly when you are contesting for the position of governor for which we all believe you have done so well.
“We are the panel that has been constituted to conduct primaries. We are seven members and there are indications that there would be one or two additions due to the work load here.
“We have come to intimate you that this exercise is going to take place in the next few hours. I also like to apologise for the delay, it had to be postponed as a result of logistics in Lagos, Imo and some other states because of the pressure and work load from the secretariat and other developments that have taken place,” the chairman said.
Ebri, a former Cross River State governor, assured the governor that he and his team were ready for the task ahead and would do everything possible to ensure that the process is seen to be free, fair and credible.
“Lagos is more like a decider and like they say, when Lagos sneezes the rest of the country catches cold. So, that is why we are very careful about what we are doing and the National Chairman asked me to send his best wishes to you and ask us to come and do the right thing to the satisfaction of all members, more so that the president of this country stands for transparency and detests corruption and a situation where no one feels manipulated.”
APC declares Ekere winner in A’Ibom
Akpanudoedehe, Dan-Abia, Efretuei kick
The APC governorship primary electoral panel yesterday declared the results of the party’s governorship primary which took place on Sunday in Akwa Ibom State.
Chairman of the panel, Yamman Momoh, at the APC state secretariat on Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, declared Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Nsima Ekere winner of the primary.
Announcing the results yesterday, Momoh said Ekere polled 160,458 votes from 167,696 valid votes cast across the 329 wards in the state.
Ekere was distantly followed by Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, who garnered 4,189 votes, while Senator John Akpanudoedehe and Edet Efretuei scored 2,015 votes and 1,234 votes respectively. Eight votes were voided.
The results from Uyo Local Government Area were cancelled due to reports of electoral irregularities and violence.
The results were announced in the presence of some party chieftains, including the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, the Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority (OGFTZA), Umana Umana, leader of the party in the state, Don Etiebet and others.
The panel chairman described the process as free and fair, despite few reported cases of violence and snatching of materials.
Momoh disclosed that two petitions have been received by the panel, adding that an appeal committee would soon be set up to address contentious issues resulting from the exercise.
In his response, Ekere appreciated all members of the party in the state for electing him to fly the party’s flag in the 2019 governorship election.
He said there was no victor and no vanquished as he intends to carry everybody along if he emerges governor next year.
It’s Umara-Zulum in Borno
The Borno APC ticket was won by Prof Babagana Umara-Zulum, who polled 4, 432 to defeat his closest opponent Idris Durkwa, who had 114 votes at the party’s governorship primary election in Borno.
Declaring the result of the election, electoral committee chair Ahmed El-Marzuq disclosed that other aspirant Gambo Lawan scored two votes while Mustapha Baba Shehuri * Ambassador Baba Jidda and Maigira Atom got one vote each.
He explained that about 317 votes were declared invalid, adding that 5,012 delegates participated in the election.
Ten out of the 21 aspirants cleared by the party for the governorship primary election in the state withdrew from the race to back Umara-Zulum. The other four aspirants abstained from the election.
Those who withdrew were: Kaka Shehu; Sen. Baba-Kaka Bashir Garbai, Sen. Habu Kyari, Mohammed Makintami and Adamu Dibal, Adamu Zaufanjinba; Mai Sheriff, Babagana Tijjani Banki, Mohammed Liman and Mustapha Fannarambe.
The four who abstained were Mutawwalli Kashim Imam; Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda and Abba Jato.
Fintiri gets Adamawa PDP ticket
Former Adamawa Assembly Speaker and Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri emerged winner of the Adamawa PDP governorship primary election.
Declaring the result yesterday, the returning officer for the election, Adamu Shuaibu, said Fintiri scored 1,656 votes, followed by Amb. Mohammed Jameel, who scored 465 votes.
Bala Ngilari scored 78 votes, Aliyu Umar scored eight votes, while Dr Umar Ardo scored only one votes.
Two other contestants, Sa’ad Tahir and Alhaji Adamu Modibbo withdrew from the primaries.
The returning officer said: “I, Adamu Shu’aibu, returning officer of the Adamawa PDP governorship primary election, wish to announce that the election was transparent, free and fair.
“And after counting the votes, I wish to announce that Umar Ahmadu Fintiri, having scored the highest votes of 1,656 is hereby declared winner of the Adamawa PDP Governorship Primary Election,” Shu’aibu said.
In his acceptance speech, Fintiri thanked the party’s stakeholders, especially Atiku Abubakar, Bamanga Tukur and Prof Jibrin Aminu, among others.
Appreciating the delegates for their commitment, Fintiri promised to bring meaningful development into the state.
“If elected, I will guarantee the welfare of people of the state, especially the civil servants. And I will make the retirement to be blessing rather than curse as being experienced in the state,” Fintiri said.
Badaru clinches Jigawa APC ticket
Jigawa State Governor Muhammad Badaru yesterday secured the mandate of APC members fly the party’s flag in the governorship election next year.
Announcing the result of the primaries, electoral committee chairman Abubakar Yaradua, said Badaru scored 3,123 votes to defeat his only opponent, Ubale Hasheem, who garnered 54 votes.
Yaradua explained that 3,828 delegates across the 27 local government areas of the state participated in the election.
According to him, 35 votes were declared invalid while 500 of the delegates collected ballot papers but did not vote.
In his acceptance speech, Badaru described the endorsement as a “vote of confidence” for him to continue the good work he had started.
“I promised you that you will never regret voting me to recontest in 2019. I also hope that the gesture will bring more unity among all APC members, to ensure massive victory in the general elections.”
Ganduje polls 2.7m to get Kano ticket
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has clinched the Kano APC 2019 governorship ticket with 2,740,847 votes.
The governorship primary election committee chief returning officer, Dr. Pius Odubu, announced the result at the state party secretariat in Kano yesterday.
He said: “After collating all the results in the gubernatorial primary election conducted by the APC, Ganduje secured 2,740,847 votes.”
Ganduje expressed satisfaction with the result and commended the peaceful conduct of party members during the direct primary.
He said: “Our dear voters have faith in what we are doing in our effort to strengthen democracy and sustain the development projects, programmes and policies.”
The exercise was generally considered to be peaceful in all the 484 wards of the 44 local governments in the state.
Galaudu is Kebbi’s PDP candidate
In Kebbi State, Senator Isa Galaudu won the PDP primary election in Kebbi to become the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 governorship election.
Galaudu was elected at the primary election at event centre on Gwandagbagi-Argungu Road in Birnin- Kebbi after polling 1,072 votes out of the total 2,226 votes cast.
His closest rival, Umar Tafida, scored 720 votes, while Buhari Bala and Abubakar Gari scored 322 and 28 votes respectively.
Declaring Galaudu as winner of the primary, the electoral panel chairman, Ado Datti, said the election was hitch-free and recorded 20 invalid votes.
Galaudu thanked party members for their support, stating that he was glad to be their preferred candidate.
He said: “I will soon announce my campaign manifesto to Kebbi people and it is about having an all-inclusive and responsive governance.
“We shall strive to have a united, secure and economically strong state for the prosperity of all.”
Masari wins Katsina APC ticket
Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari emerged the APC flag bearer for the 2019 election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Katsina, the governorship primary election committee chairman in the state, Dr Isa Adamu, said that the election was contested by three aspirants.
Adamu said 5,627 votes were cast during the primary election, saying that Masari scored 5,562 votes to emerge winner during the election.
He said that Abubakar Ismail Funtua got eight votes, and Garba Dankane had only one vote. According to him, 56 votes were invalid.
In his acceptance speech, Masari thanked the delegates for re-electing him as the party’s candidate for 2019 election.
He assured delegates that he would try to ensure unity among party members for the progress of APC.
Masari urged those who lost out in the contest to support him so as to ensure its victory in the general elections next year.
Ex-FCT Minister Bala is Bauchi PDP candidate
A former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Senator Bala Mohammed emerged in Bauch as the state’s PDP governorship candidate.
According to The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, Bala defeated two other contestants – senators Abdul Ningi and Adamu Gumba – at the keenly contested primary election.
The chairman of the PDP electoral panel, Chief Dan Orbih, announced that Mohammed scored 1,335 votes to emerge winner; Ningi got 802 votes and Gumba polled 15 votes.
He noted that only 32 invalid votes were recorded during the election.
According to him, the election was free, fair, peaceful and conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Orbih urged members of the party to remain loyal to the and work hard to reclaim the state.
He commended the delegates for their resilience and conduct during the exercise.
Sokoto deputy governor is APC flag bearer
Sokoto State Deputy Governor Ahmad Aliyu emerged the APC standard bearer for the 2019 governorship election.
Announcing the result yesterday in Sokoto, the APC governorship primary election chairman Sulaiman Abubakar said the election was contested by four aspirants.
Abubakar said that 3,606 delegates out of the 4,600 voted during the primary election, saying that Aliyu scored 2,282 votes to beat his closest rival, Faruk Yabo, who scored 837 votes during the election.
Abubakar said that Abubakar Gumbi, got 70 votes, while Senator Abubakar Gada, had 20 votes.
The chairman added that 397 votes were invalid.
In his acceptance speech, Aliyu thanked the delegates for electing him as the APC candidate for 2019 election.
He promised to ensure unity among party members for the progress of APC.
Aliyu also urged those who lost in the contest to support his candidacy in order to ensure APC victory in the 2019 general elections.
Buni is APC Yobe candidate
The National Secretary of the APC Mai Mala Buni emerged the party’s governorship candidate in Yobe after defeating three others in the party’s primary in Damaturu.
Returning officer for the party’s primary election Umar Kareto announced the results yesterday.
Kareto said Buni polled 2,797 votes to defeat House of Representatives member Sidi Karasuwa, who scored 23 votes, Umar Ali, who polled eight votes and Aji Kolo, who netted four votes.
The election, which lasted for about 13 hours, was conducted peacefully with delegates from the 17 local government areas of the state.
The returning officer commended the governorship aspirants and their supporters for their cooperation during the primary and acceptance of the result.
Karasuwa conceded defeat and pledged to work for the success of the candidate and the party in the 2019 general elections.
