Encomium
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday (Monday, December 8) across the
nation held gubernatorial primary elections to determine the party’s
candidates in next year’s general elections.
From drama in south west, to unopposed candidates in far north,
delegates converged and voted their preferred aspirants.
Here are the
winners…
Abia State – Winner Dr Okezie
Ikpeazu. He got 487 votes, beating seven other contestants.
Adamawa State – Nuhu Ribadu.
Former EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu won, polling 688 votes.
Niger State – Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko. The former chief of staff
polled 908 votes.
Kaduna State – Gov Mukhtar Ramalan Yero The acting governor retained
the PDP ticket in Kaduna with 970 votes. His opponent, Senator Zego
Aziz got just one vote.
Akwa Ibom State – Udom Emmanuel
The primaries were marked by a
tense atmosphere with all the aspirants, except incumbent governor
Akpabio’s preferred candidate Udom
Gabriel Emmanuel, boycotting the poll. He got 1,201 votes to clinch the ticket.
Ebonyi State: Chief Dave Umahi
Chief Dave Umahi, the state’s deputy governor clinched the ticket
after polling 541 votes.
Nasarawa State – Yusuf Agabi.
Dr. Yusuf Agabi emerged the winner after polling 214 votes, beating
former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, who scored 129 votes.
Drama in Ogun State. It was officially announced by the party national
publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, that the primaries in Ogun were
postponed.
However, in an interesting twist, the state’s chairman of the party,
Engr. Bayo Dayo said he was unaware of any directive and insisted the
exercise went on, which led to three aspirants coming to the venue.
Gboyega Nasir Isiaka was declared the winner.
Rivers state – Nyesom Wike. The former supervising minister of
education polled 1,083 votes to clinch the ticket in his state.
Katsina State – Engr Musa Nashuni.
Engr Musa Nashuni, the anointed
candidate of Governor Ibrahim Shema,
received 1,309 votes, defeating eight
other candidates.
Cross River State – Senator Ben Ayade
Vice chairman, Senate Committee on
Environment and Ecology, Sen. Ben Ayade, got 752 votes, with four of
the 10 aspirants withdrawing prior to the polls.
Delta state – Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
Serving Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta North polled 406 votes as
opposed to his second counterpart David Edevbie who scored 299 votes.
Plateau State – Gyang Pwajok.
The pandemonium started before the
polls commencement at the Jos venue of the polls. The agents of some
aspirants rejected ballot boxes provided because they labelled with
names of local governments. The protest was serious, however the polls
were finally held. Gyang Pwajok was declared the winner, with 435
votes
.
Lagos State – Jimi Agbaje.
Savvy businessman Jimi Agbaje, prevailed over the former Minister of
State for Defence, Amb. Musiliu Obanikoro, having received 432 votes
against Obanikoro’s 343.
Imo State: Emeka Ihedioha.
In Imo state, it was a close call as Deputy speaker of the House of
Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha,
scored 346 votes, while Senator Ifeanyi Araraume bagged 336 votes.
In Kwara State, the exercise was postponed.
Jigawa State – Malam Aminu Ibrahim
Ringim. The one-time chief of staff, Mallam Aminu Ringim emerged the
unopposed winner with 1,020 votes after two other contestants withdrew
just moments to the polls.
Oyo State – Senator Teslim Folarin.
Folarin got the PDP governorship ticket in Oyo.
