He admonished the losers to support the eventual winner as voting was underway at Onikan Stadium to pick the standard-bearer for the 2015 election.
Tinubu, in his address delivered by state spokesperson of the party, Joe Igbokwe, described the day as historic and another steady march in democratic journey in the country, saying that it was a day members gathered to pick a candidate that would fly the APC flag for governorship post in 2015.
The national leader, who recalled that it was the desire of all the aspirants, based on the meeting he had with them, to have a candidate freely chosen in a fair contest, expressed the belief that such desire would be accomplished at the end of the exercise.
He noted that all the aspirants had worked tirelessly towards the exercise, while enjoining them to remain as a family in order to put the enemies, who he said were at work, to shame.
While reminding them that only one out of the 12 aspirants would emerge as candidate, Tinubu assured those who would lose of reward, declaring that “the party would reward you all.”
State chairman of the party, Chief Oladele Ajomale, said none of the aspirants could be said not to be qualified and capable for the job, but declared that only one would emerge among them as the party standard-bearer.
However, in the course of the exercise, the APC chairman had cause to come back to the podium to say his attention was drawn to a text message reportedly sent that he had endorsed an aspirant among others and had called on delegates to vote such person.
Ajomale denied knowledge of such message, declaring that all aspirants were his and, therefore, had no cause to anoint any of the 13 aspirants.
Chairman of the panel on state governorship primaries, Chief Peter Obada, lauded the state chapter of the party for its giant stride in democracy, assuring that Lagos was for keep for APC, based on the standard it had set in governance.
However, he said the ultimate was for the party to win at the centre come 2015, in order to bring about positive change that the APC had been noted for.
At the primaries progressed, 11 out of the 13 aspirants left the venue of the exercise, leaving only Mr Akinwumi Ambode and Senator Ganiyu Solomon.
Earlier, there was excitement and celebration by the delegates when Ambode arrived at the venue of the primaries, as most of the delegates and others around cheered him.
When it was his turn to vote, it was cheering galore, with security men becoming helpless to control the excited crowd.
The situation was so rowdy that several people suspected to be political thugs found their ways inside the venue of the primaries to cheer him.
Hoodlums also had a field day, dispossessing people of their belongings outside the venue.
Umana, Tambuwal, Gaidam win in A/Ibom, Sokoto, Yobe
Umana Okon Umana emerged the governorship candidate of APC in Akwa Ibom State as he polled 2,444 votes out of the 2,453 valid votes.
Udoedehe emerged second with six votes.
Accepting his victory, Umana, who was declared the candidate of the party for the 2015 election, expressed gratitude to the delegates and promised to lead the party to victory in 2015.
In Sokoto, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, emerged the governorship candidate of the APC, while Governor Ibrahim Gaidam emerged the party’s governorship candidate in Yobe State.
As of press time, the battle was said to be between Nasir el-Rufai and Isa Ashiru in Kaduna, though feelers suggested that the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), el-Rufai, may emerge APC candidate.
Amosun clinches APC gov ticket with 3,554 votes
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has won the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s flag bearer in the 2015 elections.
The governor is seeking re-election into office for second time as 3,861 delegates voted for his candidature at the primaries, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
Amosun is the sole candidate of the party for the position at a congress, under the supervision of the state and national representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Mr Kehinde Mustapha.
With the presence of heavy security men within and around the venue of the congress, the voting exercise commenced at exactly 1:00 p.m. after the congress Electoral committee, headed by Mr Tunde Oladunjoye had finished accreditation.
Amosun, in his address, shortly after he was declared winner of the congress assured the people of the state that his election would poise him to do more for the people of the state and described the exercise as peaceful.
“What happened today is a demonstration to what APC stands for; we must abide by the rule of the game which says that primaries must be conducted.
“It is a call for further service to the people of Ogun State; they have given me the mandate to continue the service that we have been rendering to the people of Ogun State.
“No one can do it alone, it will take collective responsibility of all of us, all the support you have been giving to us will not be taken for granted and we will continue to serve you better,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, has declared his interest to contest against his boss, Amosun in the 2015 elections on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (PDP).
Amosun and Adesegun were jointly elected on the same ticket in 2011 under the banner of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later metamorphosed into All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said his decision was not to fight anybody in the state but his decision was based on personal interest.
Adesegun said he would take up from where his former boss would stop as governor of the state by May 29, 2015 insisting that he had no regret for dumping APC.
The deputy governor, who accused Amosun of undermining his office as the deputy governor of the state, admitted that he had issues with his boss and that he had put all issues behind him.
He added that his declaring for SDP and joining the guber race with his boss would not heat up polity, noting that both of them had reached a crossroad on the joint ticket that brought them to power.
He said “the duty of the deputy governor is not to be seen that is why you’ve not being seeing me. The governor is doing what he should do and my duty is to take off from where he stops.”
He added that his party has commenced sensitising party members ahead of the elections with the interest of the people of the state at heart.
Reacting to the news of his deputy intention to contest against him, the governor described the Adesegun’s declaration and one of the beauty of democracy which should be encouraged.
He also said he wished his deputy well in his desire to contest against him in the forthcoming governorship election in Ogun, saying that the state was known for peace and would continue in that direction.
Ajimobi emerges in Oyo
Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday, emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2015 general election.
At the congress, midwifed by the Honourable Lumumba Adeh-led five-man electoral committee, Ajimobi polled 4,662 votes to defeat his opponent, Dr Ayobami Wasiu Adesina, scion of former governor of the state, the late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, who polled 22 votes. 90 votes were declared invalid.
The third aspirant, Mr Adebayo Shittu, who was on Monday cleared in Lagos to contest along with the two others, however, pulled out of the race on Wednesday, after he filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, asking the court to declare the congress invalid and illegal, in view of the manner the delegates were selected.
The former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General in the state, who had contested against Ajimobi in 2011 as a candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), shunned the congress, leaving the stage for the incumbent governor and Lam’s son.
Accreditation of the 4,776 delegates from the 33 local government councils began at 9.30 a.m, while voting commenced at 3.30 p.m and ended at 5.15 p.m.
Ajimobi, who arrived at the stadium at 2:30 p.m eventually voted at 5:10 p.m as one of the delegates from Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
Hon. Lumumba Adeh on behalf of the other electoral committee members had said that: “We had three aspirants screened by the APC Screening Committee and they are Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Dr. Wasiu Abayomi Lam-Adesina and Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), we had interaction with all the aspirants but one of the aspirants, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, indicated that he was not going to participate in the exercise.
“He submitted a petition but that could not stop the exercise; and it is by way of information. His petition or letter will be forwarded to the national secretariat of the party”, he said.
Ahmed wins in Ilorin
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in the party’s primaries, with a total of 3,016 votes.
The delegates, numbering 3,025 from the 193 wards that made up the 16 local government areas of the state, cast their votes for the incumbent governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the only aspirant of the party for the governorship seat.
Declaring results of the election, leader of the national delegation of APC, Azu Uwandu, said nine of the total votes were invalid.
Uwandu, who commended delegates for conducting themselves peacefully during the election, said the party would form government in the state and at national level.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Ahmed promised to surpass his achievement in the past four years, just as he highlighted his administration’s achievements in areas of infrastructure development, health, education, among others.
He also said his government would support youth empowerment to further drive job for the people of the state.
In his remark, the political leader of Kwara State and senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district, Dr Bukola Saraki, commended the delegates for conducting themselves peacefully during and after the primaries.
He advised them to continue to work hard until the governor and presidents of APC were elected in February 2015.
Saraki also assured them of support of the party for better development and prosperity in the state.
Ezea emerges Enugu gov candidate
CHIEF Okey Ezea has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Enugu State, ahead the 2015 general election.
Ezea, who once contested gubernatorial seat under the Labour Party (LP) and lost to Sullivan Chime in 2007 and 2011, emerged as the sole candidate, following the withdrawal from the race by his rival, Dr Ifeanyi Asogwa.
Asogwa stated that he could not withstand the popularity of Ezea; hence he had to withdraw to pick the ticket of the House of Representatives for Nsukka/Igboeze South federal constituency, in the forthcoming National Assembly polls.
In his acceptance speech, Ezea vowed to lead APC to the Lion Building, Government House, Enugu, in 2015, adding that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)PDP-led government had failed in the state.
Ezea promised to offer free education to all indigenes of Enugu State atall levels, if elected governor of the state, adding that the N544 billion allocations accrued to the state between 2007 and now were enough to implement free education to the last letter.
In his speech, the state chairman of APC, Dr Ben Nwoye, said he was overwhelmed that Ezea’s election was done through democratic process and not a consensus by few individuals.
Nwoye noted that the crisis in state PDP would be an advantage to the opposition, urging the party faithful to commence ward to ward campaign, with a view to turning the table against PDP in 2015.
Delegates endorse Gaidam as sole candidate in Yobe
Delegates at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Yobe State, on Thursday, unanimously endorsed Governor Ibrahim Gaidam as the party’s candidate for the 2015 general elections.
The decision was reached after an unopposed primary election in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.
Addressing newsmen after the election, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Malam Babagana Tijani, said the endorsement was sequel to polling a total of 2,219 votes, cast to affirm his ticket.
Tijani added that the ticket was a reward for the governor’s performance in office, which had transformed the state to an enviable height in the country.
He commended the courage of the APC members for turning out in large number to endorse the governor, in spite of the security situation in the state.
He expressed appreciation of the cooperation, given to the electoral committee by the party’s delegates, across 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Earier, Senator Ahamed Lawal, representing Yobe North District, commended the security agencies, especially the military “for standing gallantly” to repel insurgents attack in Damaturu.
He said the endorsement could not have been possible if not for the effort of the military for securing and ensuring peaceful environment in the state.
The lawmaker applauded the party’s faithful for their support to the emergence of the governor as the flag-bearer in the 2015 general elections.
Responding on behalf of the governor, his deputy, Alhaji Abubakar Ali, expressed gratitude to the members of the party for their support and cooperation to the governor.
Ali assured them that the governor would not let them down in the development of the state.
According to him, the people of Yobe have done extremely well by endorsing the governor for the second term, “because he has done well in the development of the state.
“We need the governor back so that he will consolidate on the progress he has achieved so far.”
Aspirant boycotts election as O’tega wins in Delta
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Delta State almost ran into a hitch on Thursday, as one of the two aspirants pulled out of the election.
Okenmor Fidelis Tilijie accused his opponent, Chief Emerho O’tega of campaigning at the venue of the election at Oshimili South arcade, Asaba, Delta State capital, before the primaries started.
The aspirants, who left with most of his supporters, described the ceremony as a charade, following the number of delegates, which he noted at the venue to be over 10,000 as against 4,000.
“I can’t be part of this, it is a charade. See the people here are over 10,000. I don’t even know whether they are from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), so we are boycotting this election,” he protested.
He, therefore, called for a cancellation of the election.
The primaries, however, went on as delegates from the 25 local government areas cast their votes peacefully, at the end of which Chief O’tega was declared winner by the electoral body.
Aspirants boycott exercise in Taraba over alleged favouritism
Three gubernatorial aspirants in Taraba State on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) boycotted the party’s governorship primaries, hours before the commencement of the exercise.
The aspirants, Ibrahim Tumba, Yusufu Akirikwen, and Suleiman Julde, while addressing newsmen at the venue of the primaries in Jalingo, noted that they hadsubmitted the letters of complaints to the national committee and copied the national working chairman of the party and other relevant stakeholders.
The aggrieved aspirants noted that they requested for the list of delegates but were not given till the time of the briefing.
Their other grievances were that though the electoral committee had been in town since Sunday, they only got to know about it barely 24 hours before the primaries.
“It is like going to a football match without knowing the size of the goal post, number of players, or the referee. It is not fair. It is clear that the state leadership of the party is favouring some aspirants over others and that should not be.
“The essence of APC is to ensure a positive change. It is therefore unfortunate if a similar scenario comes to play here.
“It is on this note that we have decided to boycott the exercise, since we cannot be a party to such games,” the aspirants submitted.
In a swift reaction, the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Hassan Ardo, noted that he was not aware of the development, as no one had written to him to that effect.
He stated that the party was objective and provided a level playing field for all aspirants.
According to Ardo, “I had a meeting with all the aspirants in my office and none of them expressed any reservation on any issue.
Some of the aspirants were coming to the party’s office for the first time on Wednesday and yet they want to bear the party’s flag.”
Ardo further clarified that “the National electoral committee is not obliged to report to any aspirants. They are to report to me and I have done a good job of taking very good care of them. The delegates are the same 2,487 that were used for the state assembly primaries, early this week, so it is out of place for any serious aspirant to say they don’t know who they delegates are.”
The Chamber of the National electoral committee, Mr Kola Shittu, however went ahead and announced all the four candidates as participating in the primaries, although the committee had received and acknowledged the complaints letter written by the trio.
Jigawa shifts exercise
JIGAWA State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has against schedule, shifted the governorship primaries timetable.
Reports from the state indicated that the state chapter of the party shifted the date, in order to arrive on a consensus candidate from among the four aspirants.
A visit to the state party secretariat in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, Nigerian Tribune observed that the venue was deserted with few supporters expecting the exercise to be held on Thursday awaiting for the arrival of the delegates.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the aspirants were Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Talamiz, Mr Hashim Ubale Yusuf, Honourable Farouk Adamu Aliyu and Alhaji Saleh Shehu.
It was revealed that the party’s executive members, caucus, elders and aspirants held several meetings since Wednesday night, which ended in deadlock.
A source at the party’s secretariat, which spoke on condition of anonymity, told Nigerian Tribune that the four gubernatorial aspirants would continue with their meeting to have consensus candidate for the party.
Up till the time of filing this report, the mobile phone of the party chairman in the state, Alhaji Ado Sani Kiri was switched off. The mobile phone of the party secretary and PRO couldn’t also be reached.
Primaries postponed in Benue
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, on Thursday, did not hold its governorship primaries as earlier scheduled.
The postponement, according to findings by Nigerian Tribune, was not unconnected with logistics problem and also on the heels of the battle between state working committee of the party and one of the governorship aspirants, Professor Steve Ugba, who the party was said to have barred from the race.
According to the press statement issued by the media adviser to the governorship aspirant, Mr Simon Tsuwam, he regretted that the same party in the state had denied the aspirant the nomination form, which he eventually picked from Abuja.
Tsuwam, however, wondered why the aspirant, who was screened and cleared by the party governorship screening committee in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, could be barred to contest the primaries.
The party’s financial secretary, Ajona Success Odey, who, however, declined comment on the purported stopping of Ugba from the primaries, told newsmen in Makurdi, on Thursday that the one-day postponement was due to logistics.
“We want to use the opportunity to put things in place for a smooth election,” he said.
