May 29, (THEWILL) – Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Thursday evening, emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for next year’s general election.
Abiodun secured the victory to pursue his second term bid at the party’s primary election held at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, .Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital.
The incumbent governor contested the election with five other aspirants: Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade; Biyi Otegbeye; Modele Sarafa-Yusuf; Owodunni Opayemi and Remi Bakare.
Abiodun polled a total of 1,168 votes out of 1,170 delegates’ accredited votes to defeat other contestants who scored no vote.
Two votes were however voided.
The exercise, which was conducted by the five-man electoral panel led by Wale Ohu, was monitored by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the Director of Elections and Party Monitor, Mrs. Oyafunke Olanike.
Ohu announced Abiodun as the winner of the election after delegates drawn from the 236 wards of 20 local government areas of the state, cast their votes.
According to Ohu, 1,170 delegates were accredited for the election.
“Prince Adedapo Abiodun, having scored the highest majority vote cast is hereby declared the winner of the APC governorship primary election in Ogun state and he is hereby declared the governorship candidate of APC to stand in the 2023 governorship election in the state”, Ohu said.
Abiodun in his acceptance speech described the election as a victory for the people of the state.
“This is definitely a day to remember. It is a day of victory – a victory that I will savour for all my life. It is a day the majority of our party men and women spoke with one voice. It is a day that an overwhelming 100 per cent was scored in an electoral process in Nigeria. I am excited. I am grateful and I promise not to let you down.
“A 100 per cent in any exam is the mark of genius. While I do not claim to be one, I am challenged by it. In a democracy, it is a resounding vote of confidence. You know it is one thing to support one on paper; on the social media or on the face value. This is real life and not mere audio endorsement. In a free and fair contest, it speaks volume about a people’s love for their own.
“I will continue to carry out the office of governor in such a way that those who voted for me today can take pride in having done so. Let me also assure you that those who will be my opponents in the general elections would be pleasantly surprised and have no choice than to join us in our Vision of “Building Our Future Together”.
“During these uncertain times, my highest commitment is to be your bipartisan voice in the state so that we can achieve our shared goals. Our state is one that has been built by our compassion towards each other, our commitment to decency, and our faith in our neighbours.
“Now is the time for us to be more united as a people so that we can genuinely continue to improve on our economy, create more rewarding jobs, provide more effective and easily accessible healthcare, and ensure that every student receives improved education”, Abiodun submitted.
Sanwo –Olu Wins Second Term in Lagos
With 1,170 delegate votes in his favour, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu won the governorship primaries of Lagos State’s chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) to become the party’s standard bearer in the 2023 general election.
The party members defied the downpour that marred the exercise held on Thursday at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan; they filed under the rain and cast their votes to approve the Governor’s second term ticket.
The electoral process commenced at 12:33pm with the arrival of the chairman of the Lagos Gubernatorial Primaries Committee led by the former Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Adamu Shettima Yuguda.
The electoral committee’s arrival was followed by immediate accreditation of delegates across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Of all the 1,225 delegates expected to participate in the primaries, the electoral committee accredited 1,198 delegates seated at the venue.
The exercise was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dispatched from the commission’s headquarters to monitor the primaries.
Before voting commenced, Shettima explained the modalities adopted by the electoral committee on how the delegates would cast their ballots.
He said: “This exercise we are conducting here is to renew the mandate of the APC government in Lagos. We bring greetings from our national secretariat. Lagos is an APC state, no other party should be allowed to govern the State because our party has done extremely well.
“Lagos is very important to APC, because the next president is most likely to emerge from this State. This exercise is important, no matter how long we are here, we must be patient because this is what the electoral laws mandate.”
At 1:03pm, accredited delegates filed out to vote according to their Local Government Areas. There were five delegates each from 245 wards across the 20 federally registered LGAs.
The voting was temporarily disrupted by the downpour. When the rain subsided, the delegates came out again to vote.
At 3:35pm, the voting ended and sorting of the cast ballots began immediately. Then, the electoral committee chairman declared vote counting.
A total of 1,182 votes were cast during the primaries; 1,170 valid votes were in favour of Sanwo-Olu, while 12 votes were invalid.
Having garnered the highest votes, Shettima returned Sanwo-Olu as winner of the process, stressing that two other aspirants who were supposed to contest in the primaries had been disqualified by the party’s screen committee prior to the exercise.
Aspirants disqualified from the primary election are Abdulhameed Olorunfemi Mustapha and Wale Oluwo.
Reacting to the outcome of the primaries, Sanwo-Olu dedicated the victory to all party members, describing them as the main winners of the exercise.
The governor said the outcome of the exercise was a “loud and clear” message from the party delegates, noting that his victory was the first leg of the success being expected by the State chapter of APC. He said the party leadership would not divert all its energy to win the APC presidential ticket for the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Having thanked all our party faithful, the bigger appreciation goes to all Lagosians irrespective of the side they lean. This victory is for all residents who have supported us on this journey we started four years ago. What we witnessed this evening is an affirmation that the good work we have been doing should continue.
“This is the assurance we are taking to the general elections and we will ensure that we don’t fail. With all sense of responsibility, there are still a lot more that Lagosians should be expecting from us across all facets of governance. The confidence reposed in us will not be betrayed. We pray that God gives us the energy to take Lagos to a level that will reflect the aspiration of all Lagosians.”
Other members of the Gubernatorial Primaries Committee who were at the exercise are the Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Bashir, Tilewa Sijuwade, Hon. Bola Imolehin and Stella Okotete.
Senator Otu Picks Ticket in Cross River
With Senator Bassey Otu’s emergence as the Cross River State APC governorship candidate, the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade has kept his promise to the people of the Southern Senatorial District.
The state governor had in the build-up to his re-election promised the people of the South that the next governor of the state will come from the south.
The governor made the promise at the palace of the Obong of Calabar Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu during his consultative visit.
The governor’s promise followed concerns that the gentleman agreement in the state which sees power rotate among the three senatorial districts will be ditched.
The governor’s promise however seemed to be faltering following his defection to the APC. To douse the concerns, once again the governor pledged during a reception at the MDI to receive some stalwarts of the PDP in the south to the APC that the “back to south promise” is sacrosanct.
The governor’s political sagacity came to play when he prevailed on 17 governorship aspirants of the APC to step down for a consensus candidate, Senator Bassey Otu.
The drive to arrive at a consensus appeared to have hit the rocks when two high profile candidates from the central senatorial district declared their intention to run and went ahead to buy forms.
The candidates, Senator John Enoh and Christopher Agara, went on to submit themselves for screening and all was set for the primaries between Prince Bassey Edet Otu from the South and two candidates from the central.
However, delegates of the party decided to queue behind the governor’s “back to south” agenda.
In the election, which lasted till the early hours of Friday morning, delegates unanimously queued behind Ayade and nominated from the south as the party’s flag bearer.
Prior to the primaries, the chairman of the panel, Alhaji Mohammadu Makoro asked if any candidate wishes to step down but none inclined to do so and the primaries went ahead.
Otu polled 811 votes to defeat Owan Enoh who polled 84 votes as well as Christopher Agara with 63 votes.
Reacting to his emergence, Senator Bassey Otu commended delegates for standing by him.
He said delegates voted for him without receiving any penny or entitlement from him and promised them that they will never walk alone.
In his words, “Today, you have put in place a solid Democratic foundation for the state and I will continue from where you stopped.
“I thank you delegates, you voted for me without receiving any penny or entitlement.
“I am deeply touched by this show of love and you will never walk alone.
“I hold the mandate in trust and promise to carry everyone along”, Senator Otu said.
Earlier, the state party chairman, Alphonsus Eba, thanked the governor for entrusting them with the leadership of the party seven months and 10 days ago.
He thanked all aspirants who surrendered to the consensus arrangement and also expressed appreciation to all stakeholders who helped midwife the process.
Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu is a former two-term member of the House of Representatives representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency.
He also represented the Southern Senatorial District in the Senate between 2011 and 2015.
Aisha Binani Wins Adamawa
The lawmaker representing Central Senatorial District, Aishatu Binani, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State.
Aishat floored five other contestants to clinch the party’s ticket in the just concluded governorship primary election in the State.
Announcing the result, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Gambo Lawan, said Binani scored 430 votes to defeat her closest rival, Ribadu, who had 288 votes.
The former governor, Bindo had 103 votes to clinch the third position.
The election, which started at about 11:30 pm on Thursday, was concluded at about 8:44 on Friday morning.
Scores by each aspirant: Aisha Binani: 430; Nuhu Ribadu: 288; Jibrilla Bindo: 103; Abdulrazak Namdas: 94; Umar Mustapha: 39; Wafari Theman: 21.
Binani has now become the first woman to win the governorship candidacy of a major political party in the State.
Binani is a serving Senator, representing Adamawa Central and she obtained victory over the likes of former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ribadu, immediate past governor of the State, Jibrilla Bindow, House of Representatives member, Abdulrazak Namdas, Wafari Theman and Umar Mustapha for the governorship race.
Nentawe Wins Plateau APC Ticket
Former Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State, Dr. Nentanwe Yilwatda has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial primary in Plateau State.
Dr Nentawe polled a total of 803 votes to beat three other aspirants.
Nine Aspirants were in the race, however before voting commenced , some of the aspirants sent in their letters of withdrawal from the contest.
According to the Chairman of the electoral Committee, Hon. Habu Ajiya, those who withdrew from the contest include, Sunday Garba Biggs, Dr. Sarpiya Danyaro, Sen. Hezekiah Dimka and Arch. Steve Fitka.
Akanimo Udofia Beats Ita Enang, Others in Akwa Ibom
Akanimo Udofia has been declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State for the 2023 general election, after beating the likes of Senator Ita Enang and Prof Christopher Ekong in a landslide victory.
The breakdown of the delegates’ election held at No. 6 Ekpo Obot State Secretariat of the party showed tha, Akanimo Udofia polled a total of 1,227 votes out of a total of 1,313 accredited delegates for the exercise, while his closest rivals, Senator Ita Enang and Christopher Ekong scored 34 and 21 votes respectively.
By the victory declared in the early hours of Friday by the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State APC Governorship Primary Committee, Omobatunde Ajibola, Udofia will contend with the candidate of the ruling PDP, Pastor Umo Eno in the general election early next year.
By Ayo Esan, Udeme Utip, Ogbu Sunday, Ukandi Odey and Bassey Aniekan
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
