Ahead of elections 2011: Party primaries of intrigues, disputes
Jan 15, 2011
BY CHIOMA GABRIEL, DEPUTY EDITOR
Osun State: Allegations all the way
There will be no governorship election in the state following the recent swearing-in of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. However, there were primaries in respect of other elections with allegations that some candidates of the PDP were anointed by the party. Oduoye said the primaries conducted in Osun Central were a sham which could not help the party in the general elections. He alleged further that the officials sent from Abuja to supervise the primaries colluded with party executives in the state and turned the election into a do-or-die affair.
Lagos state: Fashola gets the nod
Governor Raji Fashola finally got the nod to contest for a second term in office by the party.
The endorsement was done after the party's National Executive Council met in its Lagos secretariat. Tinubu raised Fashola's hand in front of thousands of party loyalists, who had painstakingly waited to see the end of the political speculations.
The PDP elected Dr. Ade Dosunmu after polling 431 votes of the 846 votes cast by the delegates.
Others in the race were Tokunbo Kamson who polled 182 votes and the former Minister of State in the Ministry of Interior, Demola Seriki who polled 120 votes. Former Deputy Governor in Lagos, Otunba Femi Pedro, gathered 104 votes, Qudus Folami eight votes and Babatunde Gbadamasi gathered five votes.
Ogun State: Wild, wild West
The Governor Daniel faction and the Jubril Martins-Kuye faction picked different candidates in the parallel primaires of the PDP. Mr. Gboyega Isiaka is the candidate of the Daniel group and Gen. Idowu Olurin that of Martins-Kuye faction.
House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, who recently made up with Daniel was among lawmakers who secured re-nomination ticket. He sailed through after his opponents, Mr. Fasiu Bakenne and Mrs. Titi Oseni stepped down for him "in the interest of Egbaland, Ogun and PDP."
Ondo state: Consensus is the game
The ruling party has a consensus arrangement which obviously did not go down well in some quarters . Hence there was an outbreak of violence in the Labour Party primaries in the House of Assembly in Ondo State, in Oba-Akoko in Akoko South West local government and Owo council areas of the state and decampment by key party members to other parties.
A lawmaker representing Akoko South West constituency 2, in the Assembly, Mr Abiodun Ogunbi, was allegedly beaten and rushed to the emergency unit in Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for medical attention. The crisis was caused by alleged substitution of delegates list by some people who wanted to impose candidates on the party.
In other constituenceis, Gbenga Edema, who recently decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling Labour Party, polled 16 votes, David Kudehinbu scored 11 votes ahead of Kunle Odidi who currently represents the constituency in the assembly. Odidi had 10 votes to come third in the keenly contested primary.
In Ilaje constituency, Oyebo Aladetan won the primary of the party to pick the ticket to represent Ilaje State Constituency I in the assembly beating Ogunyemi Johnson and Gbayisemore John. Aladetan, the incumbent lawmaker who got to the House on the platform of the PDP was among the lawmakers that defected to the Labour Party late last year.
The dispute over the primary elections saw the decampment of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olu Agunloye to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in order to realize his senatorial ambition. This development came as Mr Gboyega Adefarati, the son of the former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Adefarati ,was chosen by the party as the consensus candidate for the ACN in Akoko South West and South East federal constituency.
Abia state: Two primaries, one candidate
During the governorship screening for Abia state, only Governor Theodore Orji and Mr. Tony Enwereuzor were cleared. But a parallel primary held in Abia state and produced , Ikechi Emmanike, who did not scale the screening hurdle in Enugu . In the real primary, Orji emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP .
Enyinaya Abaribe of Abia South emerged the senatorial candidate for another term in the senate.
Anambra state: Between the rich and the rich
There will be no governorship election in Anambra this year.
Amidst crisis and confusion in PDP primaries, Annie Okonkwo of Anambra South was announced winner of the PDP ticket for the senate while Alphonsus Igbeke, who defected from the ANPP to the PDP after winning his senate seat after a three-year legal battle, lost his ticket to the wife of Chuba Okadigbo, the former senate president.
In the APGA primaries, allegations and counter- allegations reigned supreme.
In Anambra South Senatorial zone, former member representing Ihiala federal constituency, Chief Chuma Nzeribe, was allegedly imposed on the people by APGA, leaving one of the top contenders for the seat, Professor Nonso Mojekwu, frustrated.
In the North, Senator Joy Emodi was declared winner amidst protests by her opponents led by Chief Mike Areh . Chief Chinedu Emeka, former Deputy Governor withdrew from the race after seeing the way things were going.
It was the same story in the central senatorial zone where the former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili won.
The incumbent governor, Martin Elechi, got the ticket with a total of 634 votes out of the 638 authenticated votes. Four votes were voided. . Governor Elechi, while accepting the result called for greater support to enable the PDP win the 2011 governorship election in the state. Before the primary, a former Minister, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu who was interested in the gubernatorial seat on the platform of PDP withdrew from the race.
Enugu State: Walking a tight rope
The incumbent governor, Sullivan Chime finally emerged candidate after a long stalemate over primaries triggered by his face-off with the PDP National Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo.
The presidential intervention became necessary when all attempts at reconciliation failed.
The resolution of the crisis is however creating more tension as some top chieftains of the party in the state are alleging marginalsation in an arrangement that gave Governor Sullivan Chime and the national chairman of the party, the opportunity to determine the fate of aspirants in the primary elections.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Communications, Senator Ayogu Eze opposed a situation where Dr Nwodo was given the chance to determine the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions in the North senatorial district.
Chime's camp was given the opportunity to produce the National Assembly and the House of Assembly candidates of the party for the 2011 polls for the rest two senatorial zones of the state, namely West and East zones.
The confusion in Enugu state raged until Wednesday when a court sitting in Enugu removed Nwodo as National Chairman of the party.
Imo State: Ohakim scales hurdles
In the governorship primary , the immediate past governor of the state Achike Udenwa and some key politicians tried to mount hurdles against the second term of Governor Ikedi Ohakim on the PDP governorship ticket in the 2011 elections. However, the governor scaled through with a total of 1089 votes, as against 17 votes for Udeagu and three votes for Emeka Nwajuba, in the election announced by the Dr Danlami Rukeye-led governorship election panel.
Ohakim described his victory was an indication that the people had embraced democracy and promised to deliver more democracy dividends to the people.
In the senatorial race in the state, Osita Izunaso of Orlu in Imo state lost to Hope Uzodinma while Chris Anyanwu lost her Owerri zone ticket in Imo state to Mrs. Kema Chikwe, former aviation minister
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Delta State: Will Uduaghan make history?
Governor Uduaghan got ticket of the PDP just hours after his swearing-in as governor on account of his victory in the January 6th re-run.
Akwa Ibom: Winners and losers
The incumbent, Chief Godswill Akpabio defeated other contenders to emerge the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling PDP in the state.
For the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), sevens aspirants including the former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator John James Akpanudoedeghe jostled to get the party's governorship ticket for the race.
Cross River State: One candidate, one party
Governor Liyel Imoke did not encounter any stress in his bid to get a ticket for another term in office as Cross River State Governor as he was the only aspirant for the election.
The governor got all the 744 votes cast by the delegates going to him. One vote was voided. Imoke would run with his current deputy.
For the senatorial race, Victor Ndoma-Egba, the deputy majority leader of the senate won the PDP ticket for Cross River Central Senatorial District . Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PDP Cross River South) , a vocal senator in the current senate lost in the primary.
Rivers state : Between the godfather and estranged son
Rotimi Amaechi, perceived as one of the top performing governors in the country defeated Mrs Dennisada Ben-Fiabema by 1139 votes to one, while former Governor Celestine Omehia, and Dr Moore Ojah-Cinda had no votes at all.
In the senatorial primary in Rivers state, Lee Maeba (PDP River South East), lost out . He lost the primaries after falling out with the State governor. Soon after he lost, he dumped the PDP for a yet-to-be-disclosed party on which platform he hopes to contest the election.
There is also Sekibo of ACN who belongs to the camp of former Governor Peter Odili, to contend with in the guber election. Sekibo would want to use the 2011 governorship to try to bounce back into reckoning.
Bayelsa state: Beware of militancy
President Jonathan was among the delegates that picked Gov. Timipre Sylva for another term. Mr Timi Alaibe, a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) defected from the PDP to the Labour Party (LP) to contest the governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Formerly an ANPP state, the major challenge of the now PDP state was the factionalisation of the party into 'old' and 'new' PDP which in the governorship primary produced two candidates.
The state governor, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, emerged the candidate of one faction while a former Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, was elected as the candidate of the other faction. Governor Shinkafi polled 576 votes to defeat his challenger, Alhaji Ikra Aliyu Bilbis who had 43 votes. At the parallel primary, Bilbis defeated the governor by 687 votes to 17.
Kebbi State: No stress
Governor Saidu Dakingari picked the PDP ticket for a second term in the state. The governor's popularity and of course the incumbent factor might have contributed to his victory . Alhaji Dakingari polled 844 valid votes and was declared the winner by the state returning officer, Mr Ini Okorie.
Sokoto State: One automatic ticket
The Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, was not challenged in the primary by any aspirant as he was the sole candidate. The governor polled 885 out of the 895 votes cast. The remaining ten votes were voided.
Jigawa State: Lamido tongue lashes Atiku
Governor Sule Lamido picked the ticket for a second term forcing his predecessor, Governor Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, out of the party for ACN.
Kaduna state: Dawn of a new beginning
The incumbent state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, emerged the PDP standard-bearer for the 2011 governorship election in the state. This was the first time a Christian would win gubernatorial primaries in the state on the PDP platform.
Other aspirants defeated by Yakowa were Alhaji Suleiman Hunkiyi, Shuaibu Idris Mikati and Hajiya Mairo Habib. He polled 904 votes.
In the National Assembly primaries, Caleb Zagi (PDP Kaduna South) lost the senatorial ticket to Esther Nenadi Usman, a former finance minister; while Mohammed Kabir Jibrin lost the Kaduna central PDP ticket to Abubakar Amisu Marago. Alhaji Makarfi retained his senatorial ticket.
Kano state: Will ANPP win again?
Kano state is largely an ANPP state although the ruling party at the centre is battling for the soul of the state. Some members of the PDP were not satisfied with the result of the primary and left the party to take refuge in the Congress for Positive Change (CPC).Former minister of defence Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso won the governorship ticket. Kwankwaso, who was governor of Kano State between 1999 and 2003 won with a total of 1,555 votes.
He defeated retired Col. Habibu Idris Shuaibu who scored 89 votes, Senator Muhammad Bello who got 71 votes and Alhaji Kabiru Kama Kasa who did not get any vote.
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The automatic ticket factor played out for Governor Babangida Aliyu who was the sole candidate for the gubernatorial primary in Niger state. Aliyu polled 1029 votes out of the total 1049 votes cast.
The governor was exhilarated when he was giving his acceptance speech. He thanked the delegates adding that "there is internal democracy in Niger State and we have done it without any rancour."
Kwara state : Father vs Son
The battle for the political soul of Kwara state has pitched the godfather of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki against his governor son, Dr Bukola Saraki. Dr, Olusola Saraki quit the ruling PDP alongside his associates for the ACPN which immediately gave its governorship ticket to Senator Gbemi Saraki.
In the senatorial race, Mr. Isiaka Gold, (Kwara Central), Sha'ba Lafiaji, (Kwara North) and Simeon Ajibola, (Kwara South), were picked as PDP's candidates.
Kogi state: Undue meddlesomeness
Alhaji Jubrin Isa Echocho, a former Director of Afri Bank emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP having scored 361 votes to defeat 17 others. Former Minister of Justice Bayo Ojo scored 30 votes, Isa Kutepa 303 votes, Olusola Akanmode 63 votes, Deputy Governor Phillips Salawu 24 votes, Abiodun Ojo 50 votes, Salihu Atawodi 54 votes, while Secretary to the State Government Musa Ahmadu got one vote.
Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Yakubu Mohammed, a journalist and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Mr. Clarence Olafemi, who were also supposed to take part in the race had earlier stepped down .
Chief Bayo Ojo blamed his loss on "money politics and the incumbency factor."
Plateau state: A fight to finish
Governor Jonah Jang, got the endorsement of his party men to run as the 2011 PDP governorship candidate in the state. He was the only aspirant in the party, as other contestants including his deputy, Pauline Tallen, had all defected to the Labour Party (LP).
These gubernatorial aspirants, including their loyalists seeking re-election into the House of Assembly did not participate in the screening of aspirants and House of Assembly primaries held in the state on the PDP platform because the Labour Party in the state had concluded for the harmonisation of the state executive of LP between those already on ground and the bigwigs joining the party.The gubernatorial aspirants that joined the Labour Party are Pam Dung Gyang; John Alkali; Dr Danladi Atu; Mr Chris Giwa; Mr. Damishi Sango and Sir Fidelis Tapgun, and the deputy governor, Mrs Pauline Tallen .
Benue state: Akume takes a run
Governor Gabriel Suswam carried the day. The governor had long before the contest properly positioned himself and had the endorsement of the delegates. Defeating his opponent, Mr. Terver Kahki, was therefore expected.
For the national assembly race, the senate president, David Mark, beat his rival, Lawrence Onoja, also a retired military general, for the third consecutive time to win the Benue South PDP senatorial ticket. Mark scored 1,680 votes against Onoja's distant 317 at the PDP senatorial primary. Onoja and Akume have joined the ACN.
Nassarawa state: Without rancour
Nasarawa State Governor Aliyu Doma picked the ticket for a second term.
Doma's main challenger, Alhaji Tanko Almakura defected to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
In all, 571 delegates voted at the primaries, the governor got 556 while 14 votes were voided.
In the national assembly primary, Abubakar Sodangi, one of the longest serving senators who headed the panel that indicted Nasir El Rufai, former FCT Minister, lost his senatorial ticket to Abdulahi Adamu, former governor of the state.
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Bauchi state: Delegates in his pocket
The race for the Bauchi State Government House was between the incumbent Governor Isa Yuguda and Senator Baba Tela. But Yuguda got the ticket to run again amidst protest by Tela that the governor had pocketed all the delegates that voted at the polls.
The immediate past Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo defeated eight other aspirants to emerge the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in this year's governorship election in Gombe State.
Dankwambo polled 400 votes in the primary to beat his closest contender , Dahiru Biri, who scored 32 votes. Abdulkadir Hamma Sale, another contender had 19 votes while the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, came fourth with 13 votes.
Farouk Bamusa, Alhassan Mohammed Fawa, Bala Magaji and former ECOMOG commander, Major General Timothy Shelpidi, scored 7, 4, 3 and 1 vote respectively. Ten invalid votes were voided.
Adamawa State: Buba Marwa decamps
Governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd) left the party after alleging he was the target of the cancellation of the result of the December 28 ward congresses.
Incumbent Governor Murtala Nyako picked the PDP governorship ticket after polling 847 of the 874 total votes cast at the primary, while the former chairman of the party, Chief Joel Hamman Joda Madaki, scored 26 votes, according to the result announced by the chairman of the electoral committee, Alh. Aminu Salihu Yakudima.
Yobe state: Senator Albashir rules
The PDP primaries in the state recorded an upset as Senator Usman Albishir defeated former minister of Police Affairs Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri and Mallam Garba Umar to clinch the party's governorship ticket for the general election in April.
Engineer Yakubu Bello withdrew from the race shortly before the commencement of the election while Hassan Saleh, erstwhile Secretary to Yobe State government also withdrew.
The PDP returning officer Mrs Vivian Anazodo said Albishir scored 388 votes; Waziri got 226 while Garba Umar scored 46. The election recorded three invalid votes.
Taraba state: Suntai beats them all
Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State won his second term ticket at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo polling 609 votes out of the total 693 votes cast by delegates.
Four aspirants contested against Suntai. Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim got 44 votes, Abdulrazeez Ibrahim, 25 votes and Jibrin Bello, one vote, while 10 votes were certified invalid.
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