Update: PDP Governorship primaries' results across the country

Update: PDP Governorship primaries' results across the country

Ugwuanyi wins Enugu ticket, Ayogu holds parallel primary

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
on Monday overwhelmed other aspirants to pick the governor ship ticket.
He polled 933 votes against his opponent the Speaker of Enugu House of
Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo’s 26.
Senator Ayogu Eze after disagreeing with the electoral committee over the list to
be used, had to organise a parallel primary where he declared himself winner with
530 votes.
Two of the aspirants, Chinedu Onu and Anayo Onwards had stepped down for
Ugwuanyi while Sam Onyishi withdrew at the last minute.
Members of the electoral committee include King Asara A. Asara as chairman,
Nkiru Ukpai, Saratu Umar, Aleme Adeyemi and Ikeje Asogwa.
Top party members at the congress include Governor Sullivan Chime and his
deputy, Deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, state chairman of the party,
Ikeje Asogwa and his deputy Hon. David Ajah.
Also all the members of the National Assembly from Enugu state with the
exception of Senator Ayogu Eze were present.
The former senate president, Ken Nnamani, former national chairman of PDP,
Okwesilieze Nwodo, ministers, and all the statutory delegates were in attendance.

Ayade emerges Cross River PDP guber candidate

The senator representing the northern senatorial district of Cross River State, Prof
Ben Ayade, emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship
candidate Monday.
According to the result announced by the Chairman of the electoral panel and
Returning Officer, Chief Olusola Akanmode, Ayade scored 752 out of 782 votes
cast in the primary election held at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Eminent lawyer Joe Agi came second with 11 votes. Godwin Jedy-Agba, though
withdrew from the race, got five votes. Father Francis Eworo also got five. Nine
votes were declared invalid. Peter Oti and Emmanuel Ibeshi did not get any vote.
Four other aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the primaries, and declared their
support for Ayade. They included Executive Secretary, National Planning
Commission, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, immediate past Secretary to the Government,
Mr Mike Aniah, immediate past Commissioner for Works, Mr Legor Idagbo and
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Larry Odey.

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Wins PDP Governorship Ticket In Delta State

A federal lawmaker, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has won the governorship ticket of the
Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State, south-south Nigeria.
Senator Okowa got 406 votes in the primary election of the party held on Monday.
He defeated over 15 other aspirants in the election.
In the results read out by the election returning Officer, Hon Karim Sunday Steve,
from the House of Representatives, David Edevbie got 299 votes, the former
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochie got 185 votes, Mr Ndudi
Elumelu got 50 votes and Godwill Obielum 22 votes.
Dr Festus Okobor got 5 votes, Professor Sylvester Monye garnered 10 votes, Ngozi
Elejeme got 10 votes and Sir Tony Obuh 5 votes.
With Senator Okowa’s victory, it is the first time that a candidate from the Igbo
speaking region of the state, popularly called Anioma, is winning the governorship
ticket of the state.

Adamawa: Ribadu clinches PDP guber ticket

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor and Faith Yahaya, Abuja
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam
Nuhu Ribadu Monday won the PDP governorship ticket for Adamawa State with
688 votes.
In the primary election conducted in Abuja, Ribadu defeated five other contenders
including Governor Bala Ngilari who scored 26 votes.
Other contenders and their scores are; Marcus Gundiri 33, Aliyu Kama 3, Ahmed
Modibo 30, Bala Ngilari 26, and Auwal Tukur with 24 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Ribadu stated: “My brothers and sisters, the true
representatives of the people of Adamawa State, I am burdened by your choice
this evening. I am challenged by it.
“My happiness knows no bound as I take your challenge to lead our great party,
the Peoples Democratic Party to the gubernatorial election coming in February
with utmost sense of responsibility and honour. I pledge not to falter as we
commence this journey for a new Adamawa State.
“The Delegates who elected me today to fly the flag of our great party represent
the will of the people of Adamawa State.
“Through your votes, you have voiced the yearnings of the people of Adamawa
state who crave for genuine development of our dear state. With your support, I
promise to lead the way first in ensuring peaceful and harmonious coexistence
among our people. Adamawa, like Nigeria today, requires unity more than ever
before.
“I extend my hand of friendship to all those who aspired for this ticket. I believe
in our collective desire to make Adamawa peaceful and a prosperous place to
proudly call home.
“While assuring you of our desire to judiciously use public resources for the
collective good let me state that I shall bring my known anti-corruption
credentials to bear in all facets of governance.
“I thank you all, respected delegates of our party for your support to me
personally and most essentially for your obedience to the tenets of our party and
its leadership. I salute your orderliness, patience and resilience throughout this
exercise”.
Curiously, however copies of Ribadu’s acceptance speech were released to
newsmen while votes were still being counted.
Meanwhile, the governor’s camp was still holding a parallel primary election in
Yola at the same time the Abuja primaries were being held.

Oyo: Teslim Folarin emerges PDP gov candidate

Former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Monday emerged the governorship
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State just as Sen.
Rashidi Ladoja picked the ticket of Accord party.
This came as a major contestant for the PDP ticket, Adebayo Alao-Akala and
three other aspirants shunned the primary. They are Seyi Makinde, Femi Babalola
and Isaac Owolabi. They did not show up at the primary held at the Obafemi
Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium), Ibadan.
Out of 198 total valid votes, Folarin polled 167 to defeat his closest candidate,
Hazeem Gbolarumi, who scored 12 votes. However, Akala scored two votes while
Prof. Soji Adejumo polled four and Dr Azeez Adeduntan three.
A total of 211 statutory delegates were accredited for the election, comprising
members of the state and local government Executive of the party, members of
the National Assembly and two members of the Board of Trustees (BoT). Ten
votes were invalid.

Niger: Umar Nasko gets PDP guber ticket

The immediate past Chief of Staff of Niger State Government House Umar
Mohammed Nasko Monday emerged victorious at the state Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governorship primaries.
He defeated seven other aspirants.
Nasko polled 908 votes to defeat his closest rival Engineer Hannafi Sudan who
scored 57 votes, while the deputy governor, Honourable Ahmed Musa Ibeto came
distant third with 34 votes.
Former Minister of Commerce, Engineer Mustapha Bello and Saleh Darangi polled
11 votes while former Kano state Military Governor Aminu Isa Kontagora and
Mohammed Dukku had no vote.
The chairman of the governorship primary committee, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye
commended all the delegates for the peaceful conduct before declaring the result
of the primary.
Senator Nuhu Aliyu and Commodore Peter Gana had earlier withdrawn from the
primary complained of non-level playing ground for all the aspirants.
Earlier state Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu sued for peaceful campaigns
by political parties and their candidates as the countdown to the 2015 general
elections in the country begins.
“We want to ensure peaceful campaign devoid of mudsling and blackmail. We are
all coming with the same product, it is only the packaging that is different” he
said adding that “politics is not about war politics is about electing who you want
to lead you at a given time.”

Akwa Ibom: Udom Emmanuel clinches PDP ticket

Akwa-Ibom – Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, former Secretary to Akwa Ibom state
government, has emerged winner of the ruling People’s Democratic Party’s
primary election in the state.
At the primary election held at the International stadium in Uyo, the state Capital,
23 PDP aspirants were represented yet Mr. Emmanuel clinched the ticket to fly
the party’s flag in the 2015 general election.
The former secretary to the state government, who hails from Onna Local
Government Area of the state, clinched the governorship ticket after gathering a
total of 1201 out of the 1266 votes casted by delegates but 6 votes were void.

Ogun: Gboyega Isiaka wins PDP ticket

Despite all odds; Ogun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) conducted its gubernatorial primaries with Prince Gboyega Isiaka emerging
the party’s candidate for 2015 governorship election in the state.
Isiaka who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN)
during the April 26, 2011 governorship polls in the state but lost to Senator
Ibikunle Amosun, defeated eleven other contestants to become the PDP
flagbearer.
He polled 705 votes while the closest contestant to him, Hon. Kayode Amusan,
scored 151 votes. 10 other contestants including Prince Yanju Lipede, Tony
Ojesina, Abiodun Akinlade scored zero votes.
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from
the National and state headquarters respectively including David Asemo, Clement
Idoko and the Commission’s administrative Secretary in Ogun, Dickson Atiba
witnessed the exercise.
The exercise, which was conducted by Bayo Dayo – led state Executive
Committee began with uncertainty and accreditation of delegates could not
commence until noon and voting began by 2: 25p.m amidst doubt that it may not
hold following the directives by the National Leadership of the party which had
ordered the postponement.
And while the trio of Amusan, Omooba Segun Adewale and Isiaka himself
attended, the likes of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji
Bankole, Yanju Lipede, Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade among others stayed away from
the exercise.

Kaduna: Yero is PDP guber candidate

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna state Monday floored his opponent,
Senator Haruna Zigo Aziz in the gubernatorial primary of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) with 970 -1 vote.
The election which was held amidst tight security at Umar Musa Yar’adua Hall of
Murtala Square in Kaduna was peaceful and orderly.
Indications emerged early Monday morning that the incumbent may have been
endorsed as a consensus candidate of the party, this was supported when three
out of the five aspirants cleared for the primary, former secretary to Kaduna state
government, Samaila Lawal Yakawada, ex – minister of state for aviation, Felix
Hassan Hyat and Air Comm. John Boko Ajeye (rtd) all stepped down ahead of the
primary.
The consensus issue was however debunked when Sen. Aziz stood his ground for
the election to hold. Though, the landslide victory at the end of the process gave
credence to the fact that all the other aspirants may have agreed to lend their
support to Governor Yero.
Speaking after conducting the election, Chairman of the Kaduna state PDP
governorship primary committee, Dr. Steven Oru said there was level playing field
for all the aspirants noting that the peaceful and orderly nature of the primary
further proved the internal democracy in the ruling party.
“There is a level playing field for all aspirants. The process was free, fair and
transparent to be sure that the best candidate emerged. Governor Yero recorded
970 votes, Sen. Zego Aziz had one vote and there was one invalid vote. The total
vote cast is 972. We declare Governor Mukhtar Yero winner of the gubernatorial
primary.”
Speaking after the election, Governor Yero commended the delegates for the
orderly way they conducted themselves; “I want to thank everyone especially the
delegates for finding me worthy of being the one to contest the Governor of
Kaduna state in 2015. I thank Sen. Aziz and the other three contestants and pray
to God to give us the understanding for us to move PDP forward in Kaduna
state.”

Ebonyi: Umahi emerge as PDP guber candidate

The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi has emerged the
gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) during the party’s
primaries conducted Monday.
The primaries which took place at the Abakaliki Township Stadium was contested
by eight (8) governorship aspirants including, Engr. Paul Okorie, Dr. Aja
Nwachkwu, Chief Hycinth Ikpo, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Chief Michael Ude
Udumanta, Senator Offia Nwali.
Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, former minister of Health and some factions loyal to
Governor. Martin Elechin, however, did not take part in the primaries.
Announcing the results of the primaries that had 592 delegates, the Chairman of
the Ebonyi gubernatorial electoral panel and Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose
declared that the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State who polled 541 votes as the
winner and gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the 2015 general election.
Other members of the Electoral Panel include: Barr Chineneye Oji, Hajia Hauwa
Kida, the PDP state Chairman, Hon. Onwe Joseph Onwe and Hon. Deinma Iyalla.
In a remark, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State thanked God for his victory at
polls stressing that his loyalty to Governor Martin Elechi remained intact even as
he asked the Governor to forgive him in any way he (Umahi) must have wronged
him in the course of the whole exercise.
According to Umahi, his priority would centre on improving the living standard of
the people of the State.
The exercise ended peacefully without any reported case of violence and
disruption of peace across the State.

Abia: Ikpeazu picks Abia PDP ticket

The Abia state governorship primary election has been held with Dr. Okezie
Ikpeazu picking the ticket to run for the governorship seat of the state for the
2015 election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The primary election which was held at Umuahia township stadium was
conducted by the primary Committee chairman, Dr Angela Mba and three others,
with the presence of heavily armed security men.
Ikpeazu the former deputy general manager of the Abia State Environmental
Protection Agency (ASEPA) defeated seven others including the immediate past
minister of labour, Emeka Wogu and the oil magnet, Dr Uche Ogar.
He defeated his contemporaries with a wide margin with the total votes of 487,
Uche Ogar came a distant second with 103 votes, while others like Emeka Wogu
came third with 33 votes, Marc Wabara got 3 votes, Okey Emuchy 3 votes,
Iheanacho Okezie Orji 1 vote, Friday Nwosu 5 votes, former deputy governor, Acho
Nwakanma 5 votes.

Ogun : governorship primaries cancelled

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cancelled the just
concluded governorship primary election in Ogun State.
A statement on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa
Meuh said the PDP did not authorise any governorship primary in the state.
“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”, the
statement added

CROSS RIVER : GODDY JEDY AGBA WITHDRAWS

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship contest in
Cross River State, took a turn for the worse on Monday, when a leading
contender , Prince Goddy Jedy Agba opted out of the primary election.
The aspirant in a statement issued in Calabar by his media consultant, Phrank
Shaibu said that his withdrawal was hinged on the grounds that the delegates’
congress list was fraught with irregularities.
“The party has confirmed our initial suspicion and fears that they were
desperately committed to excluding Prince Goddy Jedy Agba from all democratic
processes leading up the fulfillment of his gubernatorial ambition.”
“From the initial proclamation that he was not a member of the party to the
cancellation of the November 1st ad hoc delegate congress, his purported
suspension from the party and now, the mutilation of the delegates list, it is
doubtful that the playing field for the intended Cross River State PDP
Governorship primaries would be sufficiently balanced, rather it is likely to lean in
favour of the outgoing state Governor’s purported choice of candidate.
“Anyone, that understands Nigerian politics a little should know how important it is
for an incumbent State Governor to see that his successor covers his tracks.
However, this should not be a crucial role for the PDP’s appointed panel in
redefining how a democratic process of electing the next governor of a State in a
civilized society should be.
“Otherwise, if allowed, it will amount to deprivation and oppression of the
electorate. In turn, this may bring about chaos and active or passive rebellion by
many people.
“Even when one does not feel a sense of worry for the PDP if it loses Cross River
State to another Party in the governorship and general elections, it is time our
political leaders learnt how to take decisions that would build our democracy than
destroy it. Democracy is about more than holding elections. A real and true
democracy should reflect the will of the people.” Shaibu stated.

Niger: Senator Aliyu withdraws from guber race

Barely three hours to the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary in
Niger State, a front line aspirant, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, has withdrawn from the
race.
He told journalists in Minna on Monday that his decision was borne out of lack of
level playing ground for all the aspirants, accusing the state governor, Dr. Mu’azu
Babangida Aliyu and the party of imposing a candidate on the party.
He said, “Despite repeated denials even when some elders led by former Governor
A.A Kure met with him (Gov. Aliyu), the governor is still going ahead to impose a
candidate on us. It has never happened before. I have my fears for our party and
our state.”
The retired deputy inspector general of police also faulted the inability of the
party to give direction on who governs the state, saying it is not showing interest
on the calibre and competence of who emerges as the party’s standard bearer.
Aliyu’s withdrawal now brings the number of aspirants to eight.
He debunked claimed that he was forced to withdraw from the race, saying, “it is
not true that I was boxed to submission. I used my judgment and withdrawn
based on my conviction that the step taken was right.”

Rivers: Wike wins PDP ticket

The Rivers State chapter of People Democratic Party (PDP) Primary election
which was held at the open field of Nkpolu Primary School in Obio/Akpor Local
government Area of Rivers State has produced Chief Nyesom Wike as the
candidate of the party.
Chief Wike was declared the winner of the primary election by the state electoral
panel after polling a total votes of 1083 out of 1108 total votes cast by the
delegates from 23 local government Areas.
Out of 24 aspirants as announced by the electoral panel at the beginning of the
election only six aspirants including Chief Wike was present at the venue. Though,
it was learnt that other aspirants decided to boycott the primary because of the
matters in court against the outcome of the state congress.
The sspirants who were present include Senator Lee Maeba, Chief Nyesom Wike,
Ibinabo Micheal West, Emmanuel Georgewill, Captain Nwankwo Sunday, and
Dembari Ben Dimkpa.
While Emmanuel Georgewill, got one vote, Hon. Michael West, got three votes and
Dembari Ben Dimkpa got 21 votes.