Reports by Ernest Nwokolo (Abeokuta) and Abdulgafar Alabelewe (Kaduna), The Nation
Despite the controversial directive from the NWC of the PDP stopping the conduct of the primaries in Ogun State, the State Exco of the PDP went ahead to conduct the election at which Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka emerged winner.
Ogun State: 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 State: 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 to 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.”
Credit: The Nations
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