EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
As the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) held primary elections across the country today, candidates have emerged from twelve (12) States, according to results announced at the time of filing this report.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the States where results have been finalized and announced are Delta, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Abia, Bauchi, Enugu, Oyo, Nasarawa and Adamawa, with the primary election postponed for Niger State.
Barde wins Gombe PDP guber primaries
Alhaji Jibrin Barde has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general election in Gombe State.
Barde polled 160 votes to defeat five other aspirants in the primary election held on Wednesday in Gombe.
Announcing the results, Mike Oghiadomhe, the PDP Returning Officer for the PDP governorship primaries in the state, declared Jamil Gwamna scored 119 votes, Dr Ali Gombe got 17 votes, Adamu Suleiman 18 votes, Gimba Ya’u 1 vote and Babayo Ardo scored 13 votes.
He said that the total vote cast in the election was 328.
Oghiadomhe commended security personnel, journalists, contestants and party executives for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
He urged members of the party to work together to ensure its victory in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
In his acceptance speech, Barde attributed his victory to the will of God while commending the party.
He said that he would work with all the contestants to ensure the PDP win election to provide good governance to people of the state.
Barde, a first runner up in 2019 All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary in the state, decamped to the PDP in February 2021.
He was a former Chief Executive Officer, SunTrust Bank.
Lamido’s son emerges Jigawa PDP guber candidate
Alhaji Mustafa Lamido, the son of former Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa, has emerged as the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2023 poll.
The returning officer for the primaries, Mr Isah Ahmed, said this when he announced the results on Wednesday in Dutse.
Ahmed said that Mustafa scored 829 out of the 832 votes cast to win the primaries, adding that Alhaji Saleh Shehu, placed second with zero votes.
He congratulated the winner of the election, party delegates as well as party members whose conduct made the election hitch free.
Mustafa expressed joy at the victory.
“I most sincerely accept this nomination with humility, modesty and determination,” he said.
He described the congress as historic.
“As we move to the next stage of campaign and elections, I ask you to trust me, work with me, campaign with me and vote for me so that we can make the state great again. And I can on you to come out massively to vote for PDP.
“I urge all of us to avoid politics of division and disunity. The interest of the state is far and above any personal or sectional interest.
“To our traditional rulers and elders, I have great respect for them and will consult them regularly on issues that will assist in moving the state forward. I pledge to campaign peacefully, but vigorously, I therefore as for your support and prayers,” he said.
One of the aspirants, Alhaji Adamu Bashir, announced his withdrawal a few hours before the commencement of the primary election.
Benue speaker emerges PDP guber candidate
The speaker of Benue House of Assembly, Mr Titus Uba, has picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the state governorship election in 2023.
The Returning Officer for the primaries, Mr Bode Ojomu said this when he announced the result of the election on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Ojomu said that Uba scored 731 out of the 851 votes at the event, adding that the deputy governor, Benson Abounu placed second with 81 votes, while Prof. Dennis Ityavyar got two votes to take the third position.
Reacting, Uba described his victory as an act of God. He appreciated some aspirants, who stepped down for him, saying the action as a sign of comradeship.
“My challenge now is how to move both the party and the state forward but with the support of PDP members we will be able to achieve great things for the party and state,” Uba said.
He thanked Abounu for showing him immense love in spite of the fact that they were aspiring for the same position.
Also speaking, Gov. Samuel Ortom, attributed Uba’s victory to God.
“A man cannot get anything unless given to him by God. God has done it and we return all the glory to Him.
“This victory is not Uba’s victory, neither is it mine but it is victory for Benue and PDP,” Ortom said.
He pledged to give Uba the needed support to enable him succeed, saying that PDP would work to retain the state in 2023 general elections.
He lauded the electoral process, saying it was free, fair, credible and transparent.
2023: Former VC emerges Abia PDP flag bearer
Former Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Uturu, Prof. Uche Ikonne, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections.
Ikonne was elected at the party’s primary election held at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Wednesday.
He polled 468 votes to defeat five other contestants in the exercise that took place under heavy presence of security personnel.
Mr Lucky Igbokwe came a distant second with 45 votes, while the only female contestant, Mrs Ngozi Merenge, scored five votes.
The Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and former Gov. Ayo Fayose thanked the delegates for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.
In an acceptance speech, Ikonne expressed gratitude to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and PDP for believing in him.
He gave assurance that he would not betray such confidence.
He further assured them that he would deliver victory to the party in the general election.
He promised to tackle the huge infrastructure need of the state, create jobs for the youths and ensure that women were gainfully engaged when elected.
2023: Kashim emerges Bauchi PDP guber candidate
Mr Ibrahim Kashim, a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, has emerged as the party’s governorship flag bearer for the 2023 general election.
Kashim, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government was the only governorship aspirant in the party’s primary election.
Mr Hassan Grema, Chairman, PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, announced this at the end of the exercise on Wednesday in Bauchi.
He said that 656 delegates participated in the exercise, adding that only one vote was declared invalid.
“Ibrahim Kashim was the only aspirant of the party in the state and the delegates had to vote to complete due process in line with the electoral law,” he said.
He commended the delegates for their orderly behaviour during the exercise held across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Responding, Kashim said: ”I want to thank you for bestowing the honour on me, this is just the beginning, we will have a great task ahead.
“We need to unite our party faithful ahead of the 2023 general election in the state,” he said.
He lauded Gov. Bala Mohammed for providing purposeful leadership and execution of developmental projects in three years of his administration.
Kashim pledged to build on the existing structures and consolidate on the feat achieved by Mohammed’s administration in the state.
Mohammed has joined the presidential race on the platform of the PDP.
Former Chief of Staff, Peter Mba, emerges PDP Gubernatorial candidate in Enugu
A former Chief of Staff to Ex Gov Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mba, has emerged winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries in the state.
Mba, who was also Commissioner for Finance under the Nnamani administration, polled 790 votes in the primaries contested by nine aspirants.
His closest rival, Mr Chijioke Edeoga polled nine votes, followed by Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa with three votes while Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and Mr Chukwunta Gilbert with one vote respectively.
The other five contestants which included Prof. Hillary Edeoga, Mr Ken Onoh, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji and scored nil votes.
Only three void votes were recorded in the primary election.
The Chairman of the PDP Gubernatorial Primaries Electoral Committee in Enugu State, Sen. Zik Sunday, who declared the result, described the process as “transparent, credible and peaceful”.
Sunday said that 812 delegates were accredited for the exercise with 807 votes cast.
He said that at the close of accreditation, two delegates from Oji River Local Government Area were absent.
The electoral committee chairman said that independent observers, including officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, were on the ground to monitor the exercise.
19 aspirants purchased the gubernatorial nomination form of the party.
However, prior to voting during the primaries, eight of the aspirants stepped down for Mba.
The aspirants who announced their withdrawals are Messrs Chukwudi Nneji, Kingsley Udeh, Erasmus Anike and Nwabueze Ugwu.
The rest are Messrs Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye, Onyekwere Nnaji, Beloved-Dan Anike and Gabriel Ajah.
In his acceptance speech, the governorship candidate pledged to serve with humility and build on the success of the current administration if elected.
According to Mba, it is our vision to transform our state with the support of the people of the state.
It would be recalled that Ekweremadu had in a statement early hours of Wednesday announced his withdrawal from the contest.
Voting at the primaries which held in the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu started by 2:22 pm.
Mba, a legal professional, who hails from Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state is the Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Oils Nig. Ltd.
Makinde wins Oyo PDP guber primaries
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Makinde defeated Hazeem Gbolarumi, who was his only opponent in the primaries held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
Announcing the results of the election, the secretary of the PDP Electoral Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi MaiBasira, said that 1,048 delegates were accredited to vote out of 1,086 delegates.
MaiBasira said Makinde scored 1,040 votes to defeat Gbolarumi, who scored only two votes; adding that six votes were voided.
In his acceptance speech, Makinde thanked all the delegates for finding him worthy to be the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 election.
“I’m not the most brilliant or the most upright person yet you gave me your mandate. Thank you for believing in me and in our party, PDP.
“Trust is like a building. For every building to stand it must have a solid foundation; the foundation for trust is truth,” Makinde said.
The governor, while assuring the delegates that he would continue to be honest, urged all PDP members in the state to continue working for the progress of the party.
Earlier, Gbolarumi, who alleged that his delegates were chased away from the venue of the primaries, called on the leadership of the party to do the right thing for the growth of the party in the state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, and the INEC Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Abiodun Onigate-Amosun, witnessed the primaries.
Representatives of security agencies at the election were the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of Security Service (DSS).
Delegates from across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state were at the stadium for the primaries.
Gbolarumi, a former deputy governor to former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala arrived at the venue of the event at exactly 11.05 a.m.
As part of the efforts to ensure the integrity of the election security agencies locked the gates leading into the venue leaving only one gate for participants to gain entrance while turning back intruders.
Gov. Fintiri scores 633 out of 638 votes, emerges as PDP’s governorship candidate
No fewer than 663 delegates on Wednesday elected Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa as the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate to contest the 2023 election for a second term of office.
Dr Gibon Katabs, Chairman of the electoral committee of the primary election made the announcement in Yola after the exercise.
Fintiri was the only contestant following the disqualification of Mr Jamil Waziri by the screening committee.
Katabs said that 668 delegates were accredited, but there were five invalid votes.
“Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri scored 663 valid votes and is hereby returned as the governorship candidate of PDP for Adamawa in 2023,’’ he said.
Katabs also commended the delegates for the successful primary election.
In his acceptance speech, Fintiri thanked and appreciated the delegates for the confidence reposed in him to run for a second term of office.
He congratulated all the party’s candidates for the successful primary elections and assured that the party would stand by them to the end.
Fintiri urged those who lost elections to accept their fate as an act of God and to continue to support the party to succeed as one family.
He also called on the party’s supporters to be ready for the national convention to ensure that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, an Adamawa indigene and former vice-president emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.
Speaker Oborevwori emerges as PDP’s governorship candidate in Delta
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori has won the governorship ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.
Oborevwori won the PDP governorship ticket to emerge as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Delta to contest the 2023 General Election.
The primary election, which was held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the State Capital, saw eight hundred and twenty-five (825) delegates accredited to vote.
Oborevwori polled 590 votes to emerge as the candidate of the PDP for Delta in the 2023 general election. While David Edevbie scored 113 votes to come second, Senator James Manager polled 83 votes from delegates.
TNG reports Olorogun Fred Majemite polled 6 votes, Peter Mrakpor polled 9 votes, Kingsley Otuaro polled 9 votes, Omizu Odebala polled 4 votes and Kenneth Gbagi polled 1 vote.
A total of 14 aspirants were announced for the governorship primary election but only 13 were present at the venue, excluding Gbagi called in absent due to fatigue.
Other governorship aspirants that took part in the primary election are Abel Esievo, Chris Iyovwaye, Braduce Angozi, Lucky Oroye, Onajefe Gift and Ike Arariboro.
Former Reps member clinches Nasarawa PDP guber ticket
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr David Ombugadu, has clinched the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State.
The Chairman of the party’s electoral committee in the state, Mr Bature Musa, announced Ombugadu as the winner of the governorship primary election held on Wednesday in Nasarawa, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
Musa said Ombugadu polled 247 votes to defeat retired Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo who scored 203 votes.
“Having secured a total of 247, I thereby, declare Hon. David Ombugadu the winner of the Nasarawa State Governorship primary election,” he said.
He said a total of 450 delegates were accredited and all voted in the election.
Reacting in an interview with newsmen, Ombugadu attributed his victory to God and promised to work hard to ensure that PDP take over governance in the state in 2023.
Also reacting to the result of the primaries, Angbazo accepted the outcome describing the conduct as free and fair.
“I want to make it very clear that the organisation of the whole process was very transparent. It was done in a way that there is no need for me to think otherwise,” he said.
He pledged to work closely with Ombugadu in order to ensure victory for PDP in the general election.
Mr Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information and an aspirant had earlier withdrawn from the contest before voting began.
PDP postpones governorship primary election in Niger as aspirants protest
Meanwhile, the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger was postponed from Wednesday to Thursday following protests by four of the five aspirants contesting the election.
The protesting aspirants, Alhaji Sani Kutigi, Alhaji Sidi Abdul, Mr Abdulrahman Gimba and Alhaji Abubakar Jankara, insisted that delegates must identify themselves properly before they could be accredited.
A total of 800 delegates were expected to elect the party’s governorship candidate.
The four aspirants took the decision that all delegates must identify themselves properly after an emergency meeting they held in one of the offices at the PDP secretariat, venue of the election.
Jankara, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, conveyed their decision to the Chairman of the electoral panel and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The protesters insisted that delegates must present a means of identification, which should be a national drivers’ licence, a national identity card or international passport.
Efforts by Ewhrudjakpo to pacify the aspirants to agree that the delegates be identified by the chairmen of their respective local governments failed.
The four aspirants also intimated the head of the security team at the venue, Assistant Commissioner of Police Adedeji Taiwo, who advised them to put their complaint in writing.
Ewhrudjakpo later informed newsmen that he had directed all delegates to get means of identification and shifted the exercise to Thursday.
Court refuses to stop PDP from conducting guber primary in Rivers
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, refused to grant an ex parte application filed by Mr Farah Dagogo asking the court to stop the gubernatorial primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers.
Dagogo, a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers approached the court through an ex parte application filed and argued by his lawyer Mr Selekeowey Larry (SAN).
He asked the court to stop the primary pending the hearing and determination of his substantive suit in which he is challenging his exclusion from participating in the screening that would make him eligible to participate in the primaries.
The suit was instituted against the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
In his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that after perusing the ex parte application, it was his view that the application had no merit.
“It is my well-considered view that this application ought to fail and same is dismissed,’’ Justice Taiwo said.
The judge said that the application failed owing to the fact that Dagogo delayed in filing it.
“I have looked at the ex parte application before me and I can see that the applicant filed his originating summons on May 12, and filed the ex parte application on May 18.
“Why did the applicant fail to file the ex parte application together with the originating summons?
“Why did the applicant wait for six days before filing the application as he is no doubt aware of the guidelines of the PDP for the conduct of primary elections.
“I have to ask these questions to show that there has been a delay on the part of the applicant in timeously filing the application,’’ the judge said
Justice Taiwo also said that the balance of convenience was not in favour of the applicant as it would be an inconvenience to the respondents for the court to grant the application.
According to the judge, the applicant did not participate in the screening which is a condition precedent in taking part in the gubernatorial primary election of the PDP.
He dismissed the suit and fixed June 7, for hearing of the substantive matter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dagogo had prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the PDP from conducting its governorship primaries in Rivers.
He also asked the court to stop it from parading and or using any list of aspirants for the purpose of conducting the gubernatorial primary election for Rivers on May 26.
He further asked the court to restrain INEC from accepting any candidate which might emerge from the Rivers gubernatorial primary of the PDP pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
In an affidavit in support of the suit, Dagogo alleged that the PDP connived with the governor of Rivers and prevented him from participating in the screening.
He said that this was done by arresting and locking him up in the governor’s office.
Responding for the PDP, Mr Ken Njemaneze (SAN) argued that Dagogo was not an aspirant having not been screened to contest the primaries.
Njemaneze held that based on the grounds that Dagogo was not an aspirant of the party, he lacked the competence to evoke the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter as constituted.