As predicted by political analysts, the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in states across the country were characterised by gunfire, parallel elections, protests and walkouts staged by some of the dissatisfied candidates. Many of the governorship primaries started late in the day, with many of them lasting well into the night. In many states, anointed candidate of the incumbent governor emerged the flag bearer of the party to the disapproval of other opponents. Cross River State: Senator Ben Ayade Vice chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Ben Ayade, yesterday emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Cross River after scoring 752 votes to defeat his closest rival, Joe Agi (SAN) who had 11 votes, Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba and Mr. Francis Eworo with five votes each. Prior to the election proper, four out of the10 aspirants shortlisted for the exercise, led by Mr. Fidelis Ugbo, withdrew from the race to support Ayade. Ayade, a serving senator representing Cross River North in the Senate, is a professor of microbiology. Rivers State: Nyesom Wike Wike emerged the PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, polling 1,083 votes to beat his closest rival, Hon. Dumbari Ben-Dimkpa, who got 21 votes. Niger State: Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko Former Chief of Staff Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko clinched the governorship ticket, polling 908 votes to beat eight other challengers. Kaduna State: Gov Mukhtar Ramalan Yero Incumbent governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero garnered 970 votes to beat Senator Zego Aziz who got only one vote. Abia State: Winner Dr Okezie Ikpeazu Dr Okezie Ikpeazu was declared winner of the Abia State PDP governorship primary. He scored 487 votes to defeat seven other contestants including the former Minister of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu who scored 33 votes to come third. Oil magnet and owner of Masters Energy Ltd, Dr Uche Ogah, came second with 103 votes. Oyo State: Senator Teslim Folarin Former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin defeated other aspirants to win the Oyo State gubernatorial ticket. The presiding officer, Abba Aji disclosed that Folarin polled 167 votes to beat other nine contestants. According to him, there were 211 votes, 14 invalid votes and 198 valid votes. Enugu State: 4 Candidates Emerge No fewer than four PDP gubernatorial candidates emerged in Enugu State as parallel primaries took place in different parts of Enugu, the state capital yesterday. Senator Ayogu Eze was elected in one of the primaries conducted in Filbon Hotel premises, New Haven, Enugu. While a total of 672 delegates were accredited for the primaries, the Returning Officer, Prince Obi Nkwonta, announced that Eze polled 526 votes to beat his closest rival Mr. Chinedu Onu, who scored 31 votes. Eleven votes were declared invalid. Meanwhile, the PDP Election Committee, led by King Asara Asara, held another gubernatorial primary at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, where by press time yesterday Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was coasting to victory. It was gathered that Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, and Professor Onyeke Onyeke held their own primaries at different locations in the state capital. Adamawa State: Nuhu Ribadu Former EFCC chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu emerged the PDP governorship candidate for Adamawa State, polling 688 votes to beat Marcus Gundiri, 33 votes, and Auwal Tukur (son of former PDP chairman Bamanga Tukur), 24 votes. Akwa Ibom State: Udom Emmanuel Apart from Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, Governor Akpabio preferred candidate, all other aspirants for the 2015 governorship race in Akwa Ibom State boycotted the delegates’ poll to choose the party’s candidate for the election next year. Katsina State: Engr Musa Nashuni Engr Musa Nashuni, the anointed candidate of Governor Ibrahim Shema, has clinched the ticket, polling 1,309 votes to defeat eight other candidates at the party’s primary election, which held at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Katsina yesterday. Ebonyi State: Chief Dave Umahi The Ebonyi State deputy governor and former PDP chairman in the person of Chief Dave Umahi emerged the governorship candidate of the party, polling 541 votes to defeat his closest rival Senator Igwe Nwagu (PDP, Ebonyi Central) who polled 15 votes. Jigawa State: Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim The chief of staff to Jigawa State governor Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim emerged the PDP governorship flag bearer. He was unopposed after two other contestant cleared by the party withdrew from the race few minutes to its commencement. Delta: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Serving Senator Ifeanyi Okowa representing Delta North senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly yesterday polled 406 votes to defeat David Edevbie who scored 299 votes. Ogun State: PDP ignores, NWC holds guber primary …Obasanjo, Daniel absent The PDP, through its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, postponed the gubernatorial primary in Ogun State, but the state chairman of the party, Engr Bayo Dayo, said he was unaware of any directive, and insisted that the exercise should go ahead. However, only three aspirants were present at the exercise held at the PDP Oke Mosan secretariat, Kayode Amusan, Segun Adewale and Gboyega Isiaka. At the end of the exercise, Gboyega Nasir was declared the winner having polled 705 to beat, leaving Kayode Amusan, 150 votes, and one vote for Segun Adewale. Lagos State: Jimi Agbaje A pharmacist, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has defeated former Minister of State for Defence, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, to clinch the Lagos State PDP governorship ticket for 2015. Agbaje scored 432 votes while Obanikoro received 343 votes. Imo State: Emeka Ihedioha Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has won the PDP governorship primary conducted in Imo State yesterday. Ihedioha got 346 votes to beat his closest rival, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who polled 336 votes. Former state governor Ihedi Ohakim came third with 213 votes. A total of 1,064 delegates were accredited for the election and 1,017 delegates voted. Nasarawa State: Yusuf Agabi A retired federal civil servant, Dr. Yusuf Agabi, has emerged winner of the PDP governorship primary in Nasarawa State as he defeated the former minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, Senator Solomon Ewuga and six other contestants. Results of Taraba and other states are yet to be released. All in all, analyst stresses the need for a change in the system of governance in the country if Nigeria must prove her strength as the giant of Africa.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 06:35:37 +0000
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