Results Of PDP Primaries Across The State
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries held yesterday, December 8, produced the surprising results in some states and as predicted by analysts, were characterized by violence and protests at some venues.
See the results of the polls and the peculiarities observed in each state, as outlined by Leadership and Vanguard.
Rivers State: Nyesom Wike
Nyesom Wike, believed to be President Goodluck Jonathan's anointed aspirant, emerged the winner with 1,083 votes.
The primaries were held amid tight security.
Speaking after the results announcement Wike noted:
"My victory is victory for democracy. I will reclaim the stolen mandate of the PDP and recover what is rightly ours in Rivers State. The era of rascality and impunity has caused Rivers State dearly. Today, the state enjoys a pariah status."
However 17 aggrieved aspirants described the primaries as a sham saying that the whole pre-voting process was meant to produce Wike as a winner.
Niger State: Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko
Former Chief of Staff Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko polled 908 votes in relatively peaceful primaries.
Still the aspirants rejected the results which they characterized as full of aberrations.
Kaduna State: Gov Mukhtar Ramalan Yero
The acting governor retained the PDP ticket in Kaduda with 970 votes, while his opponent Senator Zego Aziz got only one vote, his own.
Abia State: Winner Dr Okezie Ikpeazu
It came as an easy victory for the politician, who scored 487 votes, having beaten 7 other contestants.
Oyo State: Senator Teslim Folarin
Ex Senate Leader Teslim Folarin got the PDP guber ticket in Oyo. Six governorship aspirants shunned the primaries, two others left at the middle of the exercise. The polls were held in the presence of enhanced security.
Enugu State: 4 Candidates Emerge As List Of Delegates Causes Troubles
At least 4 candidates won in the parallel primaries held in different parts of the state capital.
Senator Ayogu Eze’s faction left the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to conduct a separate primary at Filbon Hotel, Enugu, after learning that the list of delegates approved by the NWC of the party had been changed by the Ikeje Asogwa’s faction. Eze emerged the winner in these polls.
Meanwhile,at the venue of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was coasting to victory.
Additionally, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi also boycotted the event over the changed list of candidates and held separate primaries at a different location of the state capital. And Professor Onyeke Onyeke reportedly carried out his own polls at another location of Enugu.
Adamawa State: Nuhu Ribadu
Ex EFCC chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu won, having polled 688 votes. Governor Bala James Ngilari and several other aspirant shunned the primaries.
Speaking after the announcement, Ribadu said he was humbled and challenged.
Akwa Ibom State: Udom Emmanuel
The primaries were marked by a tense atmosphere, as all the aspirants, except for Governor Akpabio's preferred candidate Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (he won with 1,201 votes), boycotted the poll.
They characterized the process as undemocratic alleging that Akbapio employed fake delegates’ list as it had not been made available for agents of each aspirant to vet and ascertain those listed to vote in the polls.
Katsina State: Engr Musa Nashuni
Engr Musa Nashuni, the anointed candidate of Governor Ibrahim Shema, received 1,309 votes and defeated 8 other candidates, who staged a mass walkout after governor Shema had cast his vote.
Ebonyi State: Chief Dave Umahi
Victory came into hands of the deputy governor and former PDP chairman in the Chief, Dave Umahi, who polled 541 votes. Meanwhile another aspirant, the former minister of health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, was absent.
Jigawa State: Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim
Ex chief of staff to Jigawa State, governor Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, emerged the unopposed winner (1,020 votes) after two other contestant cleared by the party had withdrawn from the race moments before the start.
Cross River State: Senator Ben Ayade
Vice chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Ben Ayade, got 752 votes, with 4 out of 10 aspirants having withdrawn before the polls in favor of Ayade.
Delta: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa
Serving Senator Ifeanyi Okowa representing Delta North senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly polled 406 votes as opposed to his second counterpart David Edevbie who scored 299 votes.
Sahara Reporters recalls that Edevbie was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's anointed candidate.
Ogun State: Postponed, but...
It was officially announced by the party national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, that the primaries in Ogun were postponed.
"Consequently, any such exercise held in Ogun State is hereby declared null and void and of no effect. A new date will be communicated for the primaries."
Interestingly, PDP state chairman Engr Bayo Dayo said he was unaware of any directive and insisted on the continuation. Thus, three aspirants came to the venue, where Gboyega Nasir was declared the winner.
Plateau State: Gyang Pwajok
The pandemonium started before the polls commencement at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, the venue in Jos. 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, Premium Times reports.
Lagos State: Jimi Agbaje
Businessman Jimi Agbaje, about 4 months after joining the party, prevailed over the former Minister of State for Defence, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, having received 432 votes against Obanikoro's 343.
The primaries in Lagos were characterized by violence as hoodlums in their hundreds stormed the Oregun, Ikeja, venue of the exercise. The police were reportedly firing teargas, which resulted in a stampede.
Punch adds that Obanikoro stormed out of the venue as the chaos started and that Agbaje was whisked away before policemen began firing gunshots into the air.
Imo State: Emeka Ihedioha
Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, scored 346 votes and thus defeated Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who got 336 votes.
Kwara State
The exercise was postponed, but the new date was not announced by the party officials.
Nasarawa State: Yusuf Agabi
A retired federal civil servant, Dr. Yusuf Agabi, emerged the winner in Nasarawa with 214 votes. He defeated the former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, who scored 129 votes.
Source: Legit.ng
