FORMER chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has clinched the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State.
He emerged tops in the primaries conducted at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, on Monday, beating five other aspirants, including incumbent governor, James Ngilari, who boycotted the exercise.
Others aspirants who boycotted the election were former acting governor of the state, Dr Ahmed Modibbo, Alhaji Awwal Tukur (son of former national chairman of the party, Dr Bamanga Tukur), Mr Marcus Gundiri and General Aliyu Kama.
Even though the defeated aspirants were not present, their names were, however, on the ballot papers and did pick up some votes.
According to the result read out at the venue, Kama polled 3 votes, Modibbo 30, Ngilari 26, Gundiri 33, Tukur 25, while Ribadu secured a total of 688 votes, while two votes were declared invalid.
Ribadu, who lost to President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 election, recently defected to the PDP.
In his acceptance address, Ribadu promised to bring his anti-corruption credentials to bear in the governance of the state, if elected.
He thanked the delegates for their orderly conduct and extended his hand of fellowship to co-contestants.
Folarin emerges Oyo PDP candidate
former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, was declared winner of the primaries and will be candidate of the PDP in the 2015 governorship election.
At the end of the exercise, held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Folarin polled 167 votes, followed by former deputy governor in the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi, who had 12 votes. Alao-Akala, who was not at the venue of the election had two votes, while Seyi Makinde, who was also absent, had no vote.
Other aspirants who were at the venue of the exercise were Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Professor Soji Adejumo, while Mr Femi Babalola and Isaac Owolabi were not in attendance.
Speaking with journalists after the exercise, the Public Relations Officer of the party, Kehinde Salawu, stated that the aspirants who did not show up for the primaries were considered as being part of the election process, since they did not communicate to inform the party that they would not be pulling out of the exercise.
Meanwhile, series of controversies have continued to trail the conduct of the exercise, as some stakeholders have kicked against it.
One of them, who preferred anonymity, told the Nigerian Tribune through the phone that “all they did today was totally illegal, because there was an existing court order that says the primaries should not be conducted.
“I can boldly tell you that no official of the party came from Abuja to supervise the exercise. I do not know where those they said supervised the election came from. So, as much as I know, the governorship primaries held today at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, was illegal and unacceptable.”
Reacting, Mr Seyi Makinde said the governorship primaries held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, which produced Senator Folarin as winner was nullity, as there was a subsisting court order.
Makinde, while addressing his supporters, who welcomed him from Abuja at his office in Ibadan, on Monday, said he would pursue his case at the court to a logical conclusion.
He urged his supporters to remain calm, as he would soon tell them his next line of action.
Ayade clinches Cross River PDP gov ticket
SENATOR representing the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Professor Benedict Ayade, on Monday, in a landslide, clinched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket for the 2015 elections.
In a very peaceful and transparent primaries conducted at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Professor Ayade scored 752 out of the 831 accredited delegates to defeat Reverend Father Francis Eworo, who had five votes, while Mr Emmanuel Ibeshi, former national publicity secretary of the PDP had no vote,.
Mr Joe Agi had 11 votes, former Group General Manager (crude) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Goddy Jeddy-Agba had five votes and Dr Peter Oti had no vote. Nine votes were declared invalid.
Jeddy-Agba, however, boycotted the exercise.
Earlier, the electoral panel had announced 10 aspirants for the contest, but a few minutes before the commencement of voting, four aspirants publicly announced their withdrawal from the race in support of Ayade.
Those who publicly stepped down for Ayade were Mr Fidelis Ugbo, secretary of National Planning Commission (NPC), Mr Legor Idagbo, former Commissioner of Works in the state, Mr Mike Aniah, former secretary to the state government and Mr Larry Odey, Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Chairman of the electoral panel, Mr Olusola Akonmode, who announced the result, commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Nasko picks Niger gov ticket, Aliyu gets senatorial ticket
Former Chief of Staff, Government House, Niger State, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko, has clinched the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2015 governorship election.
Umar Nasko polled 908 votes to beat eight other challengers among them the Niger state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who recorded 34 votes.
Former minister of Commerce, Mustapha Bellom, scored 11 votes, Alhaji Sahabi Danrangi 11 votes and Hannafi Sudan 57 votes.
Alhaji Dukku and Former Kano State governor, Aminu Isa Kontagora, though contested, did not return any vote.
Chief returning officer for the primaries and former minister of state Finance, Senator Jibril Martins Kuye, said 1027 candidates were accredited for the election while three votes were voided.
In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Umar Nasko attributed his victory to God and the delegates, promising to campaign vigorously in the nook and crannies of the state to ensure his victory in the general election.
Meanwhile, Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the Niger East Senatorial District in the state.
The governor said that with the peaceful nature of the primary elections conducted in most states of the federation, “it is expected that such will be replicated during the campaigns and the general elections.”
One thousand and twenty-four delegates from the three senatorial zones of the state cast their votes in the election as against the 1025 expected.
Governor Aliyu, speaking to newsmen, declared that “we want to ensure peaceful campaign devoid of campaign of calumny and blackmail.”
Ringim picks Jigawa gov ticket
Adamu Amadu, Dutse
Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Ringim emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for Jigawa State after the withdrawal of the two other aspirants before the party primaries.
Aminu Ringim won the election with over 1,120 votes at the primaries presided over by Alhaji Isah Ahmed Duniyabahutu, the former chairman of the party in the state and under the supervision of Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu from the party’s national headquarters.
The aspirants who withdrew from the race were Aminu Kani and Alhaji Abba Anas Adamu.
Wike emerges Rivers gov candidate
Immediate past minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Monday, emerged the governorship candidate of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 elections.
He scored a total of 1,083 votes to beat his closest rival, Honourable Dumbari Ben-Dimkpa, who scored a total of 21 votes, Honourable Ibinabo Michael-West scored three votes, while two others, Senator Lee Maeba and Mr Emmanuel Georgewill, scored one vote each.
The governorship primary, conducted, amidst tight security, by Honourable Etifa Bekeakpo, was however boycotted by 16 other PDP governorship aspirants.
Those who boycotted the governorship primary included former vice-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Don Baridam; Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, Mrs Abietedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart, Gabriel Pidomson, Atamuno Atamuno, Dr Silver Opusunju, Chief Sampson Ngerebara, Major Lancelot Anyanya and Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.
Others were Chief Pawariso Samuel Horsfall, Captain Sunny Nwankwo, Bernard Mikko, Prince Tonye Princewill, Nimi Walson-Jack, Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and former minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia.
In his acceptance speech, Wike, from Rumueprikom community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, extended an olive branch to the aggrieved aspirants, urging them to join him in the battle to reclaim the state for PDP.
“I congratulate, especially, all my fellow aspirants as worthy gladiators and I publicly invite them to join hands with me in the great task ahead. The task of ensuring a total victory for the PDP in Rivers State; the task of ensuring the re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in whom we are all well-pleased and committed to the cause of his victory in the polls in 2015.
“I offer olive branch to all combatants in the struggle to recover for the PDP and indeed all Rivers people, the stolen mandate, currently in the hands of All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. We shall and we should work together, very assiduously to recover what is rightly ours.
“I am deeply humbled and elated by the electoral success of PDP. It is unique and special that I am found worthy to be entrusted with the enormous responsibility of flying the party’s flag, by electing me governorship candidate for the 2015 general election in Rivers State.
“I dedicate this victory to God Almighty, who makes all things possible. It is a victory for democracy; it is victory for all of us who toiled day and night to see to the progress of the PDP in Rivers State,” he said.
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