May 26, (THEWILL) – Erstwhile Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Sokoto State, Mallam Sa’idu Umar (Mallam Ubandoman Sokoto), has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial flag bearer in the state
The former Commissioner for Environment in the state, Hon. Sagir Bafarawa, who also took a shot at the position will now be the running mate of Alhaji Umar.
Equally by consensus, the current Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan Iya, has been allotted the choice of contesting for a Senatorial position in the state.
In the exercise superintended by Dr Tom Zakari from the party’s national headquarters, Alhaji Umar polled 695 votes of the total 755 delegates.
Other aspirants for the gubernatorial slot, who ceded their interests for Alhaji Umar, were a former Deputy Governor in the state, Hon. Mukhtar Shagari and the current PDP chairman of the state, Hon. Bello Aliyu Goronyo.
Speaking at the occasion held at the at international Conference Centre, Kasarawa, Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal thanked the delegates for a smooth conduct of the exercise right from state assembly, National assembly to the governorship primaries.
He commended the members and leaders of the PDP in the state for their patriotism and loyalty in all of the process, assuring that he would work assiduously in order to ensure that the party win all the seats in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.
Tambuwal also commended the officials that came from national headquarters of the PDP and staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who conducted and monitored the exercise respectively.
In his address, the Sokoto state PDP chairman, Alhaji Bello Aliyu Goronyo thanked the governor for giving all the necessary support and cooperation to the party.
While congratulating all the winners of primary elections in various seats of the party he also thanked the party supporters for the cooperation towards the successful conduct of the exercise.
In his remarks, the gubernatorial flag bearer, Malam Sa’idu Umar, thanked the governor and party supporters in the state for giving him the opportunity to be its representative in the 2023 general elections.
Sa‘idu also said Gov. Tambuwal has in the seven years of his administration laid the foundation for transformation of the state to the highest level, stressing that his emergence as the PDP candidate in the state shows the great leadership qualities of Gov. Tambuwal while demonstrating the unity among party members in the state.
He enumerated the numerous achievements recorded by the current administration as: education, youth development, healthcare delivery and agriculture among others.
Sa’idu assured the people of the state that he will continue to improve and maintain what Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has attained, particularly his legacies of consensus building, team work and inclusiveness.
He also assured party faithful that he would join hands together with the party supporters in order to win the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, Hon. Isah Mohammed Kudan Ashiru has won the PDP gubernatorial primaries election held on Wednesday in kaduna, to emerge the party’s candidate for the 2023 governorship election.
Ashiru scored 414 to defeat Sani Sidi with 260, Ramalan Yero with 28, Sani Abbas 15, Haruna Saeed 11 and Shehu Sani with 2, invalid votes 30.
The election lasted till the wee hours of Thursday.
The Returning Officer, Chief Raymond Dabo, former PDP Chairman, plateau state announced the result.
Ashiru was the PDP Flag bearer of 2019 governorship election, but lost to governor Nasir El-rufai of the APC.
In a similar development, the immediate past Accountant General of Rivers State, Fubara Siminialayi, has emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2023 general elections in the State.
A total of 16 aspirants contested the election after a series of meetings and consultations led by Governor Nyesom Wike failed to yield a consensus.
Siminialayi, who hails from Opobo/Nkoro local government area of the state, polled 721 out of a total votes cast of 890 to emerge the overall winner.
Fubara, widely acknowledged as Wike’s first choice aspirant emerged winner at the primary concluded Wednesday night at the Obi Wale Cultural Center, Port Harcourt with majority delegates swayed by the governor’s will.
In the results counted by Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof Walter Botu, Fubara polled an overwhelming 721 of total 898 delegates votes cast to pick the ticket with his closest rival and Wike’s alleged second choice and immediate Rivers Commissioner for Finance, Kamalu Isaac, polling 86 votes.
A party chieftain and delegate, reflecting on the predictable outcome of the exercise noted, “It has been easy in a way, and not so easy in another way. It was easy because hardly any aspirant expressed interest in the race with a mind of his own.
“Virtually all chested out, totally depending on Wike’s endorsement. Reps member, Farah Dagogo, the only one who bought intent form, professing not to depend on anyone, is languishing in cell today, awaiting trial for criminal breaches he has pleaded not guilty to.
“So, for the loyalists, when you sell your will to run to the principal, you hardly can dissent if he says drop off. The not so easy part of it is that close political associates of the governor found it hard to take that the governor retired a civil servant to lord over core party people who have worked and supported him over the years.”
The winner, Fubara, in an acceptance speech stated, “I don’t even know what to say. I wish I had prepared 20 years for this. I all I can say is that victory for Fubara is victory for Rivers PDP and victory for Rivers state.”
Governor Nyesom Wike said, “There nothing anybody can do about it. We have gotten a candidate and everybody has to work to support this course. Everybody should see that this how almighty God designed it. Everybody cannot emerge candidate.”
Among the aspirants that participated in the primaries were former deputy governor governor, Tele Ikuru, Felix Obuah, immediate past Chairman of PDP in the State, Dr Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government, George Kelly, Special Adviser to Governor Wike on Projects and Dr. Abiye Sekibo former Minister of Transportation.
Meanwhile, some of the aspirants, including Sekibo, former senator, Lee Maeba, Gabriel Pidomson and Obuah boycotted the exercise despite commencing the process.
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