Former governor of Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu has defeated 26 other All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, including, Yaya Bello, to clinch the party’s ticket for the governorship contest, scheduled for November 26.
Audu won the majority of the 3,044 votes in the party primary election that ended around 4:00 am Nigerian time earlier today.
Audu was governor of Kogi state until 2003 after which he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money laundering and theft of Kogi state funds.
His trial is ongoing as at the time he was declared winner of the APC primary election today.
Declaring the results in the early hours of today, Sunday, the Chief Returning Officer for the primaries, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State announced that Prince Abubakar Audu polled the highest number of votes to defeat his closest rival, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
The Governor appealed to other contestants in the race to accept the result, saying the Electoral Panel did all within its powers to ensure a free and fair primary election.
“What we have seen here today is a reflection of the change we represent. We have ensured the conduct of a free and fair primary election which has reflected the true wishes of our party in the state. I urge you all to embrace the outcome and work for the success of our party in the next governorship election,” he said.
Also speaking after the primaries, one of the aspirants, Dr. Hameed Yaqeen hailed the process as free, fair and transparent.
Prior to the primaries, many believe that the contest will be tight. But the stepping down of one of the frontrunners, Barr. Tunde Irukera changed the contest.
It was said that an alliance was formed between the main forces in the election.
Sanusi Abubakar Gamji, billionaire businessman became a forerunner with the alleged support of the three Senators in the state.
However, the forces working for the emergence of Prince Audu changed the game with last minute horse trading. [myad]
