APC picks governorship candidates nationwide – LIVE UPDATES December 4, 2014. The All Progressives Congress, APC, is conducting its primary election nationwide to elect the party’s governorship candidates in the 2015 election. PREMIUM TIMES reporters have been dispatched to the various election centres to provide live updates of situations as they occur. Already, the fate of Governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, and Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state are already known as they are reported to be sole candidates of the party in their states. The primary elections in those states is expected to be mere formality. Lagos State It is a different ball game in Lagos state where there are 12 candidates seeking to be selected as the party’s flag bearers. Reports from Onikan Stadium, venue of the primary say all the candidates are already at the venue and the election might commence anytime soon In Kaduna, feelers suggest former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nasir El-Rufai may emerge the APC candidate. He however need to beat Salihu Lukman, Haruna Kajuru, Shamsuddeen Abdullahi and Isah Ashiru in the election starting any moment from now at the trade fair complex. In Kano, the deputy to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Umar Ganduje, is expected to emerge after being anointed by the caucus of the party. Nevertheless, Mr. Ganduje will slug it out with Senator Ibrahim Gaya, Rep. Kawu Sumaila, Salisu Takai, Abba Yusuf and Rabiu Bichi. Our reporter in Kano however said journalists are still scrambling to find out the venue of the primary election. In Sokoto, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal is expected to win, he is facing Bello Gada, Lawal Bashir and Yushau Kebbi. Live Updates from Across the State 15.11 ADAMAWA In Adamawa state, delegates are presently queued at the Lamido Cinema venue of the election. The party’s flag bearer in the cancelled Adamawa bye election, Mohammed Jibrilla, aka Bindow and his major contender, Ibrahim Mijinyawa, aka Yayaji, are already at the venue. 15.40 KWARA In Kwara, the election is going smoothly so far. Incumbent governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, is expected to emerge. 15.45 KANO In Kano the election will hold at the Sani Abacha Stadium at about 6pm. A total of 7,500 delegates will participate in the election. 15.50 KWARA In Kwara, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been declared winner of the governorship primary. He was sole candidate at the primary, and the election was mere formality. He addressed delegates after being declared winner, promising to do more for the state if reelected governor in February. 15.58 KANO There are indications that one of the aspirants, Suleman Kawu, will withdraw from the governorship race in Kano any moment from now. Mr. Kawu, who is the Deputy Minority leader in the House of Representatives, is negotiating his withdrawal from the race with some APC chiefs in the state. If he finally withdraws, the ticket will be contested for by three others namely, the Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, former military governor of Kaduna State, Jafaru Isa, and Usman Alhaji, a former finance commissioner in the state. Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has since endorsed his deputy. 16.02 AKWA-IBOM In Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the accreditation of delegates has just commended at the Township Stadium along Udo Umana Street. PREMIUM TIMES learnt the APC structure collapsed in the state after the devastating blow it got from the PDP-led government of Governor Godswill Akpabio. The party’s gubernatorial candidate during the 2011 general election, John Udoedehe, had lost many of his supporters to the PDP which had the economic power. But with the defection to the party of the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Umana Okon Umana, the party was revved to life. Mr. Umana is said to have brought into the party, his supporters and a robust political structure that cuts across every part of the state. 16.03 SOKOTO In Sokoto, over 4000 APC delegates from the 23 LGAs of the state are now fully seated at the Shehu Kangiwa Memorial Stadium venue of the APC guber primaries. Binji LG has concluded voting. Next is Bodinga and Dange Shuni LGs. Then Gada and Goronyo LGs will vote. 16.05 NASARAWA In Nasarawa, late arrival of materials is delaying the governorship primaries A cross section of the delagates who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES complained that they arrived Lafia as early as 7.30a.m believing that accreditation would commence at 8.30am as scheduled. Isaac Saleh of Keffi in Nasarawa West Senatorial District lamented the continued delay of the exercise as at 1.30p.m. He said that most delegates came with the hope of returning home today but that with the delay, it might not be possible. I was not prepared to stay till tomorrow but with what is going on, the exercise might be delayed till midnight. PREMIUM TIMES observed that the accreditation is taking place at three different places, according to senatorial district. On a visit to the stadium, where the West Senatorial District delegates are being accredited, at about 2.30pm, Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura was seen addressing delegates. Governor Almakura and three other aspirants namely James Angbazo, Reuben Audu, and Stanley Buba, are contesting for the ticket of the party to contest the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state. 16.08 AKWA-IBOM The contest in Akwa Ibom is between four aspirants: Mr. Udoedehe, who had contested the governorship of the state on the party’s platform in 2011, former Military Administrator of Rivers State and a guber candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Mr. Umana, the former SSG and an APC member of the House of Representatives, Emmanuel Ekpenyong. 16.12 ENUGU In Enugu State, the state chapter of the party has adopted Okey Ezea as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2015 election, party chairman, Ben Nwoye says. Mr. Ezea, who has contested and lost the Enugu governorship post in the past, is a multimillionaire maritime lawyer and shipping mogul 16.39 BENUE In Benue, the spokesperson to one of the frontline aspirants, Prof. Steve Ugbah, has issued a statement debunking speculations that he has stepped down from the race. Below is the full statement. The attention of the Prof. Steve Torkuma Ugbah has been drawn to a story in todays edition of Daily Telegraph to the effect that the Benue State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has barred him from the partys Governorship Primaries earlier scheduled for today, but which for some reason(s) as yet unknown to us, have been rescheduled for Tomorrow i.e. 5th December, 2014. Ugbah, the partys governorship candidate in the 2011 guber-election, is the leading contender for the state APC ticket. It is possible that the story is also in other dailies, but the one in Daily Telegraph attributes the origin of the story to the State APC Chairman, Mr. Abba Yaro, and quotes him as saying Ugbah has been excluded from the race, and that although he has bought his Nomination Form, and has been duly screened, Ugbah remains on his own. Prof. Ugbah wishes to state categorically, unambiguously and unequivocally that: 1. The story is not true. 2. It is not only baseless, wicked and satanic, it is calculated to mislead his teeming supporters across the state who are gearing up to give him the partys nomination tomorrow or anytime the state EXCO permits one to be held. 3. Abba Yaro has no power, authority and locus, either as the State Chairman of the APC and/or an individual, to stop, disqualify or bar Ugbah from contesting in our partys Primaries, now rescheduled for tomorrow, Friday December 5, 2014. 4. There is no provision in our partys guidelines or constitution as well as the nations constitution that gives Abba Yaro (or anybody by whatsoever designation in the state EXCO) the power, right or privilege to disqualify/bar any aspirant, least of all, an aspirant of Prof. Ugbahs calibre, who, besides purchasing and returning his Expression of Interest/Nomination Forms, has been duly screened and passed by the APC Governorship Screening Committee, sitting Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. 5. First, he was refused the Nomination Form after paying the statutory fees on grounds of a bogus and non-existent Handling fees). That pathetic attempt to extort money from him collapsed when the National Secretariat of the party received Ugbahs nomination papers, and wished him luck. Today, it is this phoney statement about Ugbah being debarred. It does not get weirder. In the light of the foregoing, Prof. Ugbah wishes to call on his teeming Delegates/party faithful as well as his supporters and sympathizers across the other political parties to disregard the said story or stories, in totality, whether they are in print or verbal. Ugbah wishes to assure them, and very powerfully so, that he, Steve Torkuma Ugbah, the leading contender for the governorship ticket of our great party, remains very much in the race. These desperate antics only confirm him as the candidate to beat. Ugbah wishes to further assure his increasing army of supporters that the desperate, but doomed campaign to stop him, at all cost and by all means possible, by Abba Yaro and/or the State EXCO, acting independently or following the script of any god-father or god-mother, cannot stop his determined quest to vie for the nomination of his party so as to rescue both his party, the APC, and Benue state from 16 years of democratic misrule and arrested development. Prof. Ugbah, who is only asking for a level playing ground from the state APC (which is not too much to ask), finds it curious that Abba Yaro, an Idoma man from Zone C is not zoning the governorship slot to Zone C, but is spiritedly embarrassing the party with his morbid obsession with Ugbah or his unstoppable candidacy. Signed: Simon Imobo-Tswam Media Adviser to: Prof. Steve Torkuma Ugbah 16.42 KWARA In Kwara, former Governor, Bukola Saraki, commends members of the APC who stepped down their ambition in the interest of the party and the state. He said the sacrifices would not be forgotten. He also thanked security agents sent to the primary election. Im sure we made their job easy in Kwara, he said. 17.15 KADUNA In Kaduna zone voting have already started at Kaduna International trade fair venue of the primaries, our reporter said that delegates of 4 local government have already casted their votes. He also said the primaries is peaceful. 17.15 RIVERS In Rivers State, a member of the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside, has emerged as the APC governorship candidate. A total of 3,733 out of 4,321 accredited delegates voted for Mr. Peterside. There were, however, 3,914 valid votes. 17.18 LAGOS Tinubu pleads with 13 Lagos aspirant to accept result of primaries A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has appealed to all the aspirants for the partys governorship candidate at the ongoing primary election in Lagos to accept whoever emerges winner as the partys choice. In a goodwill message to the aspirants, delegates, and party members on Thursday, Mr. Tinubu, hailed all the aspirants for being good democrats. I want to use this opportunity to commend all the aspirants. You have toiled hard and sweated for the good of the state, Mr. Tinubu said in the message read by party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Joe Igbokwe. You all have acquitted yourselves very well by selling your vision and not by tearing each other down. This is as it should be and must be. Over 6,000 delegates from 20 local governments across the state have assembled at the Onikan Stadium on Lagos island, to elect the partys flag bearer out of the 13 aspirants. Ahead of Thursdays primaries, about 10 of the aspirants had called for a suspension of the exercise on the grounds that the procedure for selecting the delegates was flawed. But on his message, Mr. Tinubu urged all the aspirants to accept the winner of the primaries as the partys choice. When I met with all of you, you spoke of the need to ensure a free and democratic process. Today, you have that process, Mr. Tinubu said. However, we must be realistic. There are 12 good men seeking one post, only one of you will win this position. Accept the winner as the choice of the party that we may move forward and continue the project we highly seek. You are 12 aspirants, and like the 12 tribes of Israel, let us work together. 17.22 LAGOS Delegates begin voting in Lagos Delegates have commenced voting to select the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos governorship flag bearer for next years election. The delegates were drawn from the 20 local government areas of the state. John Obadan, the chairman of the partys Election Committee, appealed to the aspirants as well as the delegates to ensure that the exercise is peaceful. We are a party set to change things in Nigeria. Charity must begin from our bedroom. We look up to Lagos as a model for democracy, said Mr. Obadan, a former deputy governor of Edo State. Consequent upon that, I want to counsel that today we behave in an orderly manner so we do not cancel all the credits we have earned. Thirteen aspirants, including one female, are vying for the partys ticket for the 2015 election. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be announced at the end of voting and the person emerges the partys flag bearer. Mr. Obadan also appealed to aspirants who would feel disgruntled at the end of the exercise to make a presentation to the committee. The final arbiter is the National Working Committee in Abuja, he added. 17.32 YOBE The Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee in Yobe State, Babagana Tijani, has announced that the delegates to the party’s primary election have endorsed Governor Ibrahim Geidam as its governorship candidate in the 2015 election. 17.35 KANO An aspirant in Kano, Kawu Sumaila, is reportedly negotiating for the position of the deputy governor. An official of the APC in the state, who does not want to be named because he does not have the authority to speak, told PREMIUM TIMES in confidence that Mr. Kawu, a member of the House of Representatives, has agreed to withdraw and become the running mate to Abdullahi Ganduje, the current deputy governor. 17.40 ZAMFARA In Gusau, Zamfara State, delegates are trooping into the Trade Fair Complex along the Sokoto road bye-pass for the primary election. The delegates are expected to simply ratify the election of Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who is the sole candidate of the APC in the state. 17.53 KADUNA El-Rufai, Ashiru in early lead Report from Kaduna says a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is in early lead followed closely by Mohammed Ashiru. Accreditation of delegates began at about 10am while voting commenced at 1.28 pm. Our correspondent in Kaduna reports that while some have judged the exercise free and fair, others say it is characterised by financial inducement. 18.11 SOKOTO Voting is getting to an end in sokoto as Wamakko Local Government Area, led by Aliyu Wammako, the Sokoto state governor, have just finish voting. Next on queue is Wurno and Yabo local government areas before counting of votes will start. 18.13 NASARAWA Nasarawa delegates have started arriving the City Hall, Shendam Road, Lafia, venue of the primary election after accreditation at Youth Centre and Stadium. 3,000 delegates are expected to vote in the exercise. 18.17 AKWA-IBOM Due to the heavy downpour in Uyo, the primary could not start on time. Currently, accreditation process is still ongoing and about 5,000 delegates are going to be screened before the commencement of voting. The four aspirants angling for the party’s flag for the gubernatorial election are already inside the stadium and waiting for the commencement of voting. 18.18 ADAMAWA In Adamawa, voting commenced at about 5.30pm with the 79 statutory delegates casting their votes first. The delegates from the three zones of the state will vote after the statutory delegates. 18.19 SOKOTO Voting has ended in Sokoto. Sorting and counting begins immediately. 18.26 LAGOS 10 aspirants leave venue midway into voting Almost all the governorship aspirants at the ongoing APC primaries in Lagos have left the venue of the exercise. Akinwunmi Ambode, Ganiyu Solomon, and Leke Pitan are the only ones out of the 13 aspirants left at Onikan Stadium as at 6p.m. It is unclear why the aspirants left midway into the exercise. Earlier, Peter Obadan, chairman the Election Committee, had appealed to the aspirants to monitor the exercise and channel any grievance to the committee. Tokunbo Wahab, the youngest aspirant in the race, left about 30 minutes ago. Femi Hamzat left two hours ago. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who was the first among the aspirants to arrive the venue at about 9 a.m., and left soon soon after delegates began voting by1p.m. As at 6 p.m., delegates from eight out of the 20 local government areas of the state has cast their votes. 18.41 TARABA Three out of the eight aspirants are protesting the conduct of the primary election in the state. Mohammed Suleiman, Mohammed Ibrahim and Yusufu Akirikwen, are alleging that the team conducting the election is doing the bidding of one of the aspirants, Jummai Alhassan. Mr. Suleiman is believed to be relative of Jummai Alhassan. They told journalists that they asked for the list of delegates prior to the election and that they were kept in the dark on all the information relating to the conduct of the exercise holding in Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo. Also, the name of the aspirants, Ezekiel Afukonyo is reportedly omitted from the list of contestants. The head of the election panel sent from Abuja,. Kola Shittu, promised to brief the press on all the issues later. 18.42 SOKOTO Counting has started in Sokoto. The only thing that one can hear from the counting desk is Aminu, Aminu, Aminu Waziri, Aminu, Aminu, Aminu Tambuwal, Aminu, Aminu, Aminu and Aminu. 18.44 KWARA Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed sent out a tweet thanking delegates for electing him. I thank all party members, executives at all levels, our stakeholders and ......for the confidence you have reposed in me. 18.47 YOBE Its all clear for Governor Ibrahim Gaidam. Yobe APC delegates have endorsed him as the partys 2015 governorship candidate, says Chairman of Electoral Committee, Babagana Tijjani. 18.52 NASARAWA Due to rowdiness, voting has been suspended and delegates asked to return to their seats for new arrangement. 19.17 PLATEAU The Chairman Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Primary Committee for the All Progressive Congress APC in Plateau State, Sunny Moniedafe, has assured of a hitch free gubernatorial Primaries in the state. Mr. Moniedafe, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES at the conference hall of the Crest Hotel, Jos, venue of the exercise, said all was set for a hitch free primaries. We just started accreditation of delegates a while ago, and is going on smoothly, we want to ensure that everyone is given equal opportunity, he said. When asked why the delay in kick starting of the accreditation of delegates, he explained that We are not in a hurry, some of our delegate are a distance from the state capital. We may even spend a night here, but we must ensure that what will be done here is right and in accordance with our constitution; security is assured. He said Plateau State has 2,964 delegates from the 17 local government, out of 12 electoral Wards; and are being accredited to participate in the selection of a governorship candidate for the part. According to him, primaries conducted for state Houses of Assembly on Wednesday was without rancour. It was observed that accreditation of delegates was ongoing peacefully. Delegates are being screened by security agents. Security at the venue is tight as vehicles are not allowed into the premises of the hotel. Five aspirants will contest the election. They are former speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Simon Lalong; Emmanuel Garba; Elijah Miner; Solomon Dealung; and a Second Republic senator, Vemmark Dangin. 19.27 KANO It appears the Kano state deputy governor, Abdulahi Ganduje, is comfortable with the idea of having Kawu Sumaila as his deputy - if he wins the ticket. A while ago, he tweeted they were perfect match. Perfect Matching Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR with Hon. Kawu Sumaila OFR 19.28 SOKOTO Senator Dahiru, one of the aspirants, just stormed out of the venue of the primaries. He has also ordered all his agents to abandon counting. Meanwhile, counting continued. 19.33 AKWA-IBOM TROUBLE IN AKWA IBOM Protest in Uyo as former members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state who recently defected to the APC came with armed convoys and forcefully opened the gates of the Township stadium for their supporters. Many statutory delegates are still outside the stadium, blocked from entry by supporters of the decampee former PDP chieftains. PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report that majority of those inside the capacity-filed stadium are not official delegates but supporters of one of the aspirant for the primary election. A local journalist, Ndon Asian, told our newsroom that some leaders of the party have started walking out of the stadium to protest the poor handling of the exercise. Some of those who have walked out include Mr. Udoedehe, his supporters and some South-South officials of the party. The former SSG, Mr. Umana is inside the stadium with hundreds of his supporters. 19.40 AKWA-IBOM The gates to the stadium have just been opened and people are trooping in without being screened, making the situation inside the venue of the primary more complex for the organizers. While some national officers of the party especially from the South-South have left the stadium, a few others are still inside trying to decide on whether to go ahead with the primary or not in view what is unfolding. 19.41 AKWA-IBOM Udoedehe is heading back to the stadium apparently to call for the cancellation of the exercise. His supporters are also trailing him to the stadium. Mr. Umana and his supporters and some delegates are still trying to convince members of the election panel to go ahead with the exercise. 19.53 RIVERS RIVERS APC GUBER PRIMARIES: EQUITY DEMANDS THAT GOVERNORSHIP SHOULD GO TO RIVERS SOUTH EAST – AMAECHI The Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Chibuike Amaechi has stated in clear terms that, equity, natural justice and fair judgement were the salient criteria used in selecting Dakuku Adol-Peterside, from the Rivers South-East Senatorial District as gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2015 general elections. Mr. Amaechi stated this during the APC gubernatorial primary election held at the Main Bowl of the Alfred Diette-Spiff Complex, Port Harcourt, the state capital. He maintained that the Rivers West Senatorial district and the Rivers East Senatorial district have taken their gubernatorial zoning slots in the past years, adding that, equity must reign supreme in ensuring that the governor after him comes from the Rivers South-East Senatorial zone in 2015. According to him, “Rivers West Senatorial district and Rivers East Senatorial district have taken their slots, and now, equity demands that it should go to Rivers South-East Senatorial district. “The All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State had earlier agreed that the governorship slot should go to Hon, (Dr) Dakuku Adol-Peterside...From today, I will continue to be in the front of Hon (Dr.) Dakuku Adol-Peterside until all elections are concluded. My joy is that, today, we have shown the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that there can be another popular party in Rivers State. In the last elections in 2011, we gave the PDP over 1.8million votes. This time, we challenge them to come and get such votes again let us see. This is the time to prove our point. Our delegates for this gubernatorial primary election are 4,574. This is an opportunity to ensure that, we do not suffer any longer.” The APC leader in the state also commended Senator Magnus Abe and his Deputy Tele Ikuru for their sterling qualities and useful contributions to his administration, urging them to remain steadfast and committed to the party. “That does not mean that, one of my bosom friends, Senator Magnus Abe is not qualified. There are two distinct Rivers people I respect so much because of their intellect. They are Senator Magnus Abe and Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, but, it is unfortunate, Ajumogobia will not be allowed to win the PDP guber primaries. In the same way, I have mentioned that the Deputy Governor, Engineer Tele is also qualified. With my Deputy, I have never watched my back. If I am overseas or in London, and I called him to handle some assignments, he has been doing well beyond my expectations. He is a man of due process,” Mr. Amaechi noted. Mr. Amaechi equally explained that, the choice of Hon. (Dr) Dakuku Adol-Peterside is hinged on the struggle for the return of the Soku oil wells bequeathed to Bayelsa State and the Etche oil well to Abia State being masterminded by the federal government. “We have suffered long in the hands of the Federal government. All the oil wells in Soku, owned by the Kalabari people have been taken away to Bayelsa State and that of Etche to Abia state. We will fight with everything to deliver APC in the 2015 general elections. As APC faithful, I expect all of us to have Soku and Etche oil wells at the back of our minds. The oil wells belong to our people. When I leave office, I expect the next Governor to continue the struggle for the return of the oil wells to our people, the Rivers people”, Mr. Amaechi explained. The State chief Executive task the Military and the Police that will be deployed to monitor the 2015 general elections in the state to be neutral and ensure the protection of lives and property. Mr. Amaechi advised the Military and the Police not to be partisan in politics as such attempt could be regarded as an act of impunity against civilians. “I hear the PDP and the Federal government are planning to use the military and the Police to stop me from moving around during the 2015 general elections. I am the chief security officer of the state and if they stop me, you will see what will happen. The duty of the Military and the Police during the elections is to ensure protection of lives and property”, Amaechi said. He further commended stakeholders and party faithful for choosing and giving automatic tickets to Assembly members in the All Progressives Congress, APC and advised those who lost out to remain steadfast in moving the party forward. Governor Amaechi used the opportunity to urge Rivers people to foster a free, fair and credible election in the 2015 general elections, adding that their Permanent Voters Card is key in choosing credible candidates. Earlier, the Chairman of the APC Guber Primary election, Prince Austin Nweke thanked Governor Amaechi and party faithful for making it easy for the panel to conduct the party primaries in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and acrimony. “What Governor Amaechi and you, the APC supporters have done is a new step that has ushered in peace and harmony in the state. Without your earlier decision, it would have been difficult to conduct the Guber primaries. Some APC states have over 18 guber aspirants, but this committee or panel is overwhelmed by the decision taken by Governor Amaechi and the party. We are at a new level”, Prince Nweke said. Press Unit Government House, PH. December 4, 2014. 19.56 LAGOS Something about Ambodes self-confidence though, and his body language. Like pikin wey carry microchips enter exam hall - Ben Ezeamalu, Premium Times Lagos Bureau Chief. 20.12 AKWA-IBOM Trouble in Akwa-Ibom Continues A gunshot has just been heard towards to the gates of the Township stadium as people fight to gain entrance to the venue of the primaries. This newspaper has it on good authority that one person has been shot. Some cultists wearing red armbands, allegedly brought into the stadium by one of the aspirants, tried to negotiate their way into the stadium. They have been pushed back by security operative. Just as Mr. Udoedehe moved into the stadium to call for the suspension of the exercise, some young party members, beleived to be loyal to another aspirant seized the election materials and fled. 20.15 AKWA-IBOM Mr. Udoedehe is still inside the stadium trying to calm down angry supporters while hundreds of party faithful are struggling to escape from the rowdy venue of the primary. 20.26 AKWA IBOM Currently, the stadium gates have been reopened and people have been called back as shouts of UOU (Umana Okon Umana) rend the air. It seems the election panel many still go ahead with the primary. A local reporter told PREMIUM TIMES that the orgnaisers are ready to conduct the primary using an open ballot system. What is curious, however, how the panel will conduct the exercise when most of the accredited delegates have left in the heat of the confusion that broke out when none delegates were allowed to flood into the stadium. 20.39 AKWA IBOM While many delegates had fled the stadium, those who were still inside have been directed to queue behind the four guber aspirants in the state. But only one long line has been formed and it is believed to belong to Mr. Umana’s supporters. 20.49 KANO The Chairman of the APC in Kano State, Umar Doguwa, has denied reports that the party was conducting the primary election in the three zones of the state. He said they were merely screened in the zones. Mr. Doguwa told PREMIUM TIMES that the screening of delegates had been concluded and that they were being evacuated from the three zones to the Sani Abacha Stadium. He however, declined comments on the reports that one of the aspirants, Kawu Sumaila had withdrawn from the race. 20.51 AKWAIBOM A head count of delegates on the queue has just been concluded and the result is about to be announced as Mr. Umanas supporters break into celebration. 21.00 NASARAWA Almakura wins Nasarawa APC Gubernatorial primaries Governor Umaru Tanko Al - Makura of Nasarawa State has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2015 general elections in the state. The governor scored 1,630 out of 2,543 votes to defeat two other aspirants Reuben Audu and James Angbazo. Mr. Audu scored 17 votes while Mr. Angbazo got 73 votes. Five invalid votes were recorded. Stanley Buba, the fourth candidate however did not show up to participate in the exercise. The primary election, which started late was held at the Lafia City Hall after delegates where accredited at the Abacha Youth Centre and the Lafia stadium. The primaries, which was held under heavy security presence, was also dully supervised by Ike Chinwo, the Chairman of the panel and the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, headed by Ahmed Makama. Mr. Al - Makura described the exercise as “peaceful.” He thanked the delegates for given him another opportunity to seek election. “The transparent manner of what happened today is a vindication of APC resolve to create a new electoral process accepted by Nigerians that would stand the test of time, he said. Recent Stories
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 20:58:17 +0000
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