APC Primaries: Ambode leads as other aspirants kick

At the time of going to press, Akinwumi Ambode was in an early lead at the primary election held at Onikan stadium yesterday. Curiously, the two main protagonists in the primaries – Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the national leader of the APC,

and incumbent governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola were absent. Their absence, a party chieftain said, was strategic. “They wouldn’t want to be seen to be influencing the proceedings and the pattern of voting by the delegates.”

However, aggrieved aspirants have described the exercise as a mockery. At the time the voting was going on yesterday, some of the aggrieved aspirants stormed out of the venue. A planned joint briefing by the eleven aspirants at Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, was shifted toFriday (today).

However, one of the aspirants, Adetokunbo Wahab, who spoke with BusinessDay, said the outcome was unacceptable as it had been premeditated.

Some of the aggrieved aspirants are Tokunbo Wahab, Leke Pitan, Supo Shasore, Tayo Ayomide, Ganiyu Solomon, Adeyemi Ikufuriji, Tola Kasali and Tokunbo Agbesanwa, the only female aspirant.

However, Henry Ajomale, chairman of the party in the state chose not to cast his vote, maintaining neutrality to prove that he was not backing anybody. This was also to lend credence to his denial of reports making the rounds that he arranged to bribe delegates to cast their votes for one of the gubernatorial aspirants in the party primaries.

Stating the grounds of their protestation, Wahab said; “I am speaking on behalf of eleven aspirants. The processes leading up to the primaries were not transparent. We are not satisfied with the processes leading to the exercise. Election is not just about voting but also about the process leading to the exercise. We were never given the delegates list, we were not aware of how many of them would vote. Again, it was agreed that 245 wards are to be used but they used 372 and instead of 20 local government areas, they used 57. We believe that if the processes are faulty, the result will equally be fault, it can’t yield a good fruit”.

Wahab said, “if we as a party cannot conduct ordinary primaries, then what moral right do we have to question INEC that it can’t organise credible, free and fair election.”
On the implication of the crisis for the party, he said; “This house is divided from the middle and we cannot subscribe to illegality

Ibikunle Amosun, governor, Oyo State was returned unopposed.  Following the development, Segun Adesegun, his deputy, drew a political battle line by declaring his intention to run for the governorship seat in the state on the platform of the newly-resuscitated Social Democratic Party (SDP).

While the APC primary election was taking place at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, attended by 3,681 delegates from 20 local councils, Adesegun was declaring for governorship at the Deputy Governor’s Lodge in the presence of Abimbola Awofeso, SDP state secretary and other party members.

Abiola Ajimobi, incumbent governor of Oyo state polled 4,652 votes to defeat Wasiu Ayobami Adeshina, son of former governor Lam Adeshina, who got only 22 votes. The third aspirant, Adebayo Shittu, voluntary withdrew after he filed a petition against the party. The primary election was held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the state capital.

The exercise was held amid heavy security presence.

Lumumba Adeh, chairman of the five-man state electoral committee, earlier in his address called on all stakeholders in the party to ensure the success of the exercise.

The Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Thursday put off its governorship primaries to Saturday (tomorrow). A statement by Mens Ikpeme, the state publicity secretary, said the change in date was to enable the party prepare properly for the staggered primaries. But a source told BusinessDay that the change in date was to allow decampees from the ruling party in the state participate in the APC primaries. Over 3,000 delegates are expected to pick the flag bearer.

Three aspirants contested for the ticket. Ortega Emerhor emerged winner with 3,584 votes. He defeated Fidelis Tilijie and Nana Onwordi who polled 195 votes and 2 votes, respectively.

There was no election in Enugu State as Okey Ezea emerged the consensus candidate.

Abia APC gubernatorial primaries did not hold yesterday as scheduled. It was shifted to today. No reason was given for the shift in date.

The notable aspirants are Nyerere Ayim, a former member of the PDP from Agburuike in Obingwa Local Government Area, Abia South Senatorial zone and Nathaniel Ikeocha from Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Abia Central Senatorial zone of the state.

There was no primary election in Imo State yesterday and no reason was given by party officials. However, Ugochukwu Nzekwe, from Orlu casually told journalists that it would hold today.

But Hilary Eke, the state APC chairman, said they were meeting to decide when the governorship primaries would hold. Chidi Ibe, state commissioner for Information, also said the primary election would hold today. There are no known governorship candidates in Imo. Governor Rochas Okorocha, who was largely believed to run for a second term, is rather running for Presidency.