Some candidates have emerged for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the gubernatorial primary elections conducted by the party ahead of the 2023 general election.

Media reports candidates have so far emerged for Delta State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Zamfara State, Rivers State, Nasarawa State, Oyo State, Yobe State and Borno State.

Buni emerges Yobe APC guber candidate unopposed

Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket unopposed for 2023 election in the state.

Announcing the result in Damaturu, the Returning Officer, Umar Kareto, said Buni, the sole candidate in the election, was declared the winner and returned elected.

He said 890 delegates were accredited for the election and 825 votes cast, adding that 805 votes were valid and 20 votes invalid.

In his acceptance speech, Buni thanked the delegates and his party for finding him worthy of the ticket for the second time.

He promised to consolidate on his development projects and programmes if re-elected as governor.

Toye Cole emerges Rivers APC governorship flag bearer

The Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave its governorship ticket to Mr Tony Cole in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Cole polled 986 votes to win the ticket at the party’s primary election, having defeated Mr Ojukai Flagamakere, who placed second with 190 votes and Mr Sukonte Davids who got 49 votes.

Mr Larry Ode, the Returning Officer at the election declared Cole the winner and said other contestants, Mr Michael West got 43 votes, while Mr Benald Miku got two votes and Sen. Magnus Abe, one vote.

In his acceptance speech, Cole expressed gratitude to Mr Chibuike Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, for believing that he had the capacity to give good governance to the people of Rivers.

He also thanked all the delegates who also believed in his capacity.

Cole called on Sen. Abe and other former aspirants to join hands and work with him to deliver Rivers to the APC at the 2023 general elections.

Earlier, Sen. Abe said he did not withdraw from the contest as earlier rumoured, but decided not to participate because the indirect primary election option chosen did not meet the standard of the process.

Omo-Agege picks APC guber ticket in Delta

The Deputy Senate President, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege has been elected as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta.

Omo-Agege, who polled a total of 1,190 votes, was returned unopposed by a total of 1,235 accredited delegates of the party at the APC governorship primaries held on Thursday in Asaba.

The event which was held at the premises of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Asaba, saw the deputy senate president emerg as the sole aspirant in the primaries.

Annoucing the results, the APC Returning Officer, Mrs Oyibo Nwaneri, declared Omo-Agege as winner, haven polled majority of the votes cast.

On his victory, Omo-Agege, expressed joy over the smooth conduct of the primaries and thanked his supporters and the entire APC family in Delta.

“Today, the APC in Delta has spoken with one voice. We may have had our differences in the past, but we have been able to reconcile ourselves.

“With my emergence as the party flagbearer for the 2023 governorship in Delta , the APC is very determined to take over the reign of affairs in Delta.

“And we are prepared to achieve that with the support of our members and the people of Delta.”

The party primaries was attended by some notable chieftains of the APC in Delta, including Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi and Chief O’tega Emerhor, a former governorship candidate of the APC in Delta.

Others were Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, a former PDP governorship aspirant who recently defected to the APC among others.

Abiodun wins Ogun APC guber ticket

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has been declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 governorship election.

Abiodun contested the primary election with five other aspirants; Abdulkabir Akinlade, Biyi Otegbeye, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, Owodunni Opayemi and Remi Bakare.

The exercise was held at the main bowl of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta on Thursday.

The election was supervised by a five-man Electoral Committee from the National Headquarters headed by Wale Ohu.

Announcing the results of the election after delegates from the 20 Local Government areas had cast their votes, Ohu said Abiodun scored 1,168 votes while other aspirants had nil.

He said that 1,180 delegates were accredited for the election, saying that 1,170 votes cast with two voided votes.

“Prince Dapo Abiodun, having scored the majority votes cast, is hereby declare the winner of the APC governorship primary election in Ogun state .

“He is hereby declared the governorship candidate of APC to stand in the 2023 governorship election in the state,” Ohu said.

In his acceptance speech, Abiodun promised to continue with the massive turnaround of the state with various infrastructural development.

He appreciated the people of the state for the continuous support and prayers.

The governor also commended members of the electoral committee, saying that they have conducted a free and fair election.

Matawalle emerges APC governorship candidate in Zamfara

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara on Thursday emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in the state.

The election of Matawalle was unopposed. The 735 delegates that participated in the election were all accredited.

They were drawn from the 147 political wards of 14 local government areas of the state.

Matawalle’s emergence would give him the opportunity to contest for the second term as governor of the state in the 2023 general elections.

Declaring Matawalle as the winner, Chairman, Committee for Governorship Primary Elections in the state, Babagana Tijjani-Banki, said out of 735 delegates, 733 votes were validly cast.

Tijjani-Banki commended the delegates for showing maturity and good conduct during the election

“Based on the power vested on me as Chairman of the APC governorship primary election in the state, I am happy to declare Bello Matawalle winner of the APC governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Matawalle described his election as peaceful and historic.

“I wish to express my gratitude to Almighty Allah for attending and completing this exercise.

“I commend our delegates and all stakeholders of the party for the successful primary election,” Matawalle said.

He called on the delegates of the party to participate actively in all National Assembly primaries scheduled to hold on Saturday and Sunday.

Matawalle promised to continue to provide meaningful development in the state if re-elected for the second term.

According to him, the secret of political party’s success is based on unity, peace and stability, saying the recent reconciliation of the party members also played a major role.

“I commend the former governors, Mahmud Shinkafi and Abdul’aziz Yari, Sen Kabiru Marafa and other stakeholders’ for their support and cooperation.

“There is unity peace and stability in the party,” he said

The primary election was monitored by the official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state Prof. Sa’idu Babura.

Sule wins Nasarawa APC guber ticket

Gov Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election in his bid for a second term in office.

Dr Ahmed Ibeto, Chairman of the party’s governorship primary election committee, announced Sule as winner of the election conducted on Thursday in Lafia.

Ibeto said that the incumbent governor polled 698 votes to defeat Dr Fatima Abdullahi, who got three votes.

“With this result, as far as we are concerned and as my position as chairman of this primary committee, I hereby declare Abdullahi Sule as the winner of the governorship primary election,” he said.

Sule, while reacting to the outcome of the election, lauded the peaceful conduct of the exercise and thanked the delegates for their patience.

He expressed hope that the general election in 2023 would also be peaceful as the primaries in the state.

The governor appreciated his opponent, Abdullahi, for her zeal and courage to vie for the governorship seat saying it would encourage women, especially in northern Nigeria, to seek to occupy elective positions.

“My happiness is that you have gone through the exercise and have gained the experience, now I have no doubt in my mind that should you come out in 2027, the performance will be different,” he said.

Shortly after the election, the governor’s opponent congratulated him for the resounding victory at the polls.

She explained that she joined the race as a face of hope for the youth and women, especially the Northern Nigerian woman whose participation in politics has been poor and whose involvement in governance has been low, despite being the highest voters especially in Nasarawa State.

“I will continue to project myself to encourage women across the country to aim higher and not to be limited by anything whatsoever,” she said.

Abdullahi pledged her support and that of her teeming supporters towards the victory of the governor during the general election.

Sanwo -Olu wins Lagos APC ticket to run for 2nd term

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has clinched the APC ticket to run for second term in the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, a sole aspirant at the primaries held on Thursday at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, was endorsed via voting by delegates at the conference.

Announcing the result of the election, the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee/Returning Officer, Alhaji Adamu Yuguda said Sanwo-Olu scored 1,170 votes to emerge winner of the primaries.

He said 1,225 ad hoc delegates were expected at the special state congress to choose the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 election while 1, 198 delegates were accredited across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

Yuguda said: “For those who have been murmuring , we have three aspirants that purchased forms in Abuja. Three of them went for screening, one was cleared and two were disqualified.

“The total number of voters are 1, 225; total number of accredited votes – 1,198; the total votes cast – 1,182, the total number of valid votes -1,170 while the invalid votes are 12.

“So, the candidate with the highest number of votes is Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu who scored 1,170 votes.

“I, Alhaji Adamu Shettima Yuguda, the Chairman, governorship primary committee in the 2023 APC primary in Lagos state, hereby declare Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu the winner, haven scored the highest number of votes.”

Earlier, Yuguda revealed that only Sanwo-Olu was cleared to participate in Thursday’s special state congress by the party’s screening committee and the appeal committee.

The other two aspirants for the topmost seat that were not cleared according to Yuguda, were a former commissioner, Mr Wale Oluwo, and a former permanent secretary, Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha.

In his acceptance speech, Sanwo-Olu appreciated the electoral committee, supporting staff and all delegates for finding him worthy to be the party’s flag bearer.

The governor applauded the Lagos State Executive of the APC -led by Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, all cabinet members, party faithful and observers for their efforts and support.

“Our delegates have defied the rain. They have spoken and they have spoken well.

“This is affirmation that you want us to continue and we will not disappoint you.

“In all facet, Lagos residents should expect a lot more from us. We will not disappoint or betray the confidence reposed in us.

“I want to say that indeed, this is the beginning of bigger work that we have for Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The event was conducted under heavy security presence and the watch of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

2023: Zulum wins APC guber primary election in Borno

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governirship primary election in the state.

Announcing the result, Chairman, APC Primary Election Committee, Mr Uba Maigari, declared Zulum winner of the election at the end of the exercise held on Thursday in Maiduguri.

He said the governor emerged unopposed being the only aspirant in the election.

Maigari said that 1,422 delegates were accredited while 1,411 voted and endorsed Zulum through voice vote.

In his acceptance speech, Zulum thanked the delegates and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and promised not to disappoint them.

He also pledged to address security challenges bedeviling the state through adoption of proactive measures to fast track rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement programme in the state.

Oyo APC governorship primary postponed

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Oyo State scheduled to hold at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan on Thursday has been postponed.

The primary was postponed by the APC Primary Committee led by Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi.

There are six governorship aspirants in the state, namely Sen. Teslim Folarin, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Dr Azeez Adeduntan, Mr Akeem Agbaje and Mr Hakeem Alao.

At about 5.00 p.m. all members of the Afikuyomi-led committee, state executives, some National Assembly members and aspirants were already at the venue.

The committee members, aspirants, delegates and other supporters present left the venue around 6.00 p.m.

It was later revealed that the primary had been postponed to Friday due to influx of non-delegates into the venue and security reasons.

Earlier, Afikuyomi had appealed to all party members and supporters who were in the stadium to move out for the committee to accredit delegates into the venue.

The committee chairman had also called on the aspirants to speak to their supporters which they all did.

All efforts to get the committee chairman and members to speak on the postponement proved abortive.