The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday held its primaries to select candidates for the 2015 governorship election across the country with some states recording violence, anger and boycott.
In some of the states where the governors on the platform of the party are serving their first terms, such governors were mostly unanimously endorsed by the party for another term in office.
For example, in Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was part of the governors that moved from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, won as the sole candidate for the election after recording a total of 3,016 votes at the exercise held inside the main bowl of the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.
The governor got all the votes from delegates from the 16 local government areas of the state according to the leader of the national delegation of APC, Prince Azu Uwandu, who gave the figure of those that votes as 3,016 with nine of the nine votes declared invalid.
The election was peaceful and devoid of any rancour and Governor Ahmed commended the delegates for participating in the election, adding that it shows that the government had been successful with its developmental programmes for the state.
He used the opportunity to reel out more programmes for the people including youth empowerment and job creation.
Senator Bulola Saraki also thanked the delegates for their peaceful conduct, promising that the party would not let them down. He also urged the delegates to continue to support the party through the 2015.
Aspirants Boycott Election in Taraba
In Taraba State, three aspirants for the governorship ticket on the platform of the APC boycotted the primaries, citing lack of transparency and irregularities in the process leading to the exercise as their excuse.
The three aspirants who boycotted the exercise include Dr. Muhammad Julde, Alhaji M T Tumba and Barr. Yusufu Akirikwen.
Though they were earlier cleared for the exercise, they had petitioned the APC Primaries Committee in the state, accusing the committee of partisanship in the process instead of being neutral.
They copied the resident commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the state Commissioner of Police, the state Director of SSS, the national and zonal chairmen of the party claiming that they had the knowledge that the committee was not transparent.
“We committed ourselves in various ways to see that we participate as democrats in the primaries. We further in pursuit of this purpose applied for all the information necessary for our successful participation in the process of the primaries,” the petitioners said.
“It is true that we asked for the list of delegates accredited by the party for the exercise of electing a sole candidate from all the aspirants but this request has not been honored by you the primaries committee.
“Up to this moment even though you are eager to go ahead with the process of the primaries regardless of the fact that our request has been denied.
“Take note that we are ready and also prefer to opt out of the primaries as our request as aforementioned has not been met by your committee.”
In his reaction, the state chairman of the party, Hasan Jika Ardo, said there were no grievances and that none of the aspirants complained to him prior to the election.
Violence in Benue
The chairman of the party in Benue State, Mr. Abba Yaro, turned the supposed peaceful exercise into a war situation as he terrorised and beat up aspirants and elections committee members both by himself and the thugs that followed him to the party secretariat, according to sources who spoke with Huhuonline.com.
Though it was difficult to know what actually caused the trouble, the chairman, according to some of the party members at the secretariat, stormed out of his party immediately the election materials were brought into the secretariat by a Toyota van.
One of the aspirant confirmed that as the chairman shouted and cursed till he got to the van, he started tearing into shreds the ballot papers and shouting at everyone present to leave the premises.
A female committee member who dared confront him was beaten to a pulp by the thugs loyal to the chairman while another aspirant for the House of Assembly was beaten up for recording the incident with his phone.
The police however intervened and shot severally to scare the thugs and all those engaged in the free-for-all that ensued, but at this stage, many of the election materials had been stolen.
Angry Senator Abbey Boycotts Primary in Rivers
Angered by the development in the APC in Rivers State, one of the aspirants for the governorship election on the party’s platform, Senator Magnus Abe, refused to turn up for the primaries thus leaving Dakuku Peterside, another aspirant to have a field day.
Peterside had been endorsed weeks ago by the party ahead of Abe and the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state was quoted as saying that Peterside was endorsed by the party because of his integrity.
This had angered Abe, who claimed the statement had endangered his good name as it could be an indirect way of saying he lacked integrity and was not qualified for the position. Abe had demanded a public apology over the statement.
Chairman of the election panel, Prince Austin Eweka, declared Peterside winner of the primaries saying that though 3,914 delegates voted, 3773 of the votes were valid while 140 votes were voided.
Prince Austin Eweka said the earlier endorsement of Peterside had made the committee’s job very easy confirming that the exercise was peaceful.
“What you have done in the state is a new dimension in our political history. It has brought peace, and harmony among party members. In some states there are about thirteen aspirants for the governorship primaries. Those of us from Abuja are so happy that the governor has taken the party to another level.”
In his reaction to the exercise, Governor Rotimi Amaechi said Abe was eminently qualified to contest but that the party endorsed Peterside to ensure equity.
“Senator Magnus Abe is eminently qualified to be our governor. He is a very intelligent man; there are two Nigerians I respect for their intelligence, Senator Magnus Abe and Odein Ajumogobia. I told Magnus that he is eminently qualified to be governor in the same manner I told them that my Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru is eminently qualified.
“The caucus decided we should present Hon Dakuku Peterside. It does not mean that he is more qualified than others. But somebody has to carry our flag.
“The choice of Dakuku is for the purpose of equity. Equity as it stands in Rivers state demands that it should go to the South-East and he has emerged the consensus candidate of APC in the forth coming election. By the grace of God, very soon I will be walking behind him as he becomes the governor of the state,” Amaechi said.
He also said lawmakers loyal to his administration were returned during the primary election for House of Assembly as a reward for standing by him during the trying period. “We are rewarding those who stood by us in the House of Assembly. This is a way to pay them back,” he said appealing for a free and fair election.
Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives, thanked the party and the delegates for supporting him adding that he would continue to uphold the party’s manifesto.
Governor Amosun Wins Ogun Primaries
With a total of 3,554 votes caste in his favour, Governor Ibikunle Amosun was declared winner of the APC primary election for the 2015 governorship election in Ogun State.
Though there was a total number of 3,861 delegates who participated in the primaries, many of the votes were voided and Amosun had nothing to worry about being a sole candidate for the exercise.
He was declared winner by head of the election team, Tunde Oladunjoye and Kehinde Mustapha, in a voting that commenced at 1pm.
Describing the exercise as peaceful, Amosun said the election was a demonstration to what APC stood 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; they have given me the mandate to continue the service that we have been rendering to the people of Ogun.
“No one person 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 while wishing his deputy, Segun Adesegun, who has started campaigning against him through the Social Democratic Party (SDP) well as, according to him, that is the beauty of democracy.
Ezea Endorsed in Enugu
It was a case of endorsement in Enugu where the party gave its nod to Chief Okey Ezea as its consensus flagbearer for the governorship election in 2015
The decision of the party was announced by the state Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, after a meeting with the delegates.
He said the delegates and party members unanimously adopted the Ezea against other aspirants adding that the party saw him as one of those who could successfuly rescue the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Ezea, who welcomed the development, said the mandate was given to him in trust adding that he would always have this in his consciousness.
He appealed for support especially as campaigns begin just as he promised to change the face of the state for better if voted into office as governor.
Election Commences Late in Plateau
The election that was aimed to start by 9am did not commence in Plateau State even at 5pm. This was because one of the aspirants who entered the race very late was given the opportunity to meet with the delegates and lobby before the election.
One of the aspirants, Alex Kwapnoe, stepped down while other aspirants include former Speaker of the State Assembly, Barr. Simon Lalong, Barr. Solomon Dalung, Senator Venmark Dangin, Prof. Emmanuel Garba and the late joiner, Dr. Selchang Maina.
The total number of delegates for the election at the Crest Hotel, Jos was 2,900 delegates across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Sunny Moniedafe, one of those from the APC headquarters, said there was need to allow for equal opportunities among the aspirants.
In Lagos, the election was yet to be concluded at the time of this report, but it is believed the exercise is a battle for supremacy between Governor Babatunde Fashola, who is supporting the State Commissioner for Works, Obafemi Hamzat, and former Attorney-General of the State, Olasupo Shasore against Bola Tinubu, the party’s national leader who is believed to be backing Akinwunmi Ambode, a former Accountant-General for the state.
