By Ogochukwu Isioma
Former Governor of Lagos state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won the ruling party’s presidential primary election.
Tinubu polled the highest votes to emerge the APC flag bearer for next year’s election in the primary which held at Eagle Square in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He defeated 13 other aspirants in the keenly contested election. Of the 2,260 accredited ballots, Tinubu polled 1,271 votes, while his closest challenger, former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, came second with 316 votes.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, scored 235 votes to come a distant third while Senate President, Ahmad Lawal, came fourth with 152 votes.
Others are:
Yahaya Bello……………..47
David Umahi……………. 38
Ben Ayade………………..37
Ahmed Sani……………….4
Ogbonnaya Onu………….1
Chukwuemeka Nwajuba………..1
Rochas Okorocha……….0
Tunde Bakare…………….0
Tein Jack Rich……………..0
Ikobasi Mukhelu………..0
Nine aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the race for Tinubu including the lone female presidential aspirant, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye; former Akwa-Ibom governor, Godswill Akpabio; former Ogun governor, Ibikunle Amosun; former Reps Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; Sen. Ajayi Boroffice of Ondo state, Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa state, and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
While another aspirant Dr. Felix Nicholas stepped down from the exercise for Osinbajo, former Senate President Ken Nnamani also withdrew from the race but failed to disclose if he did so for any aspirant.
A total of 14 aspirants contested the primary including Osinbajo, Tinubu, Amaechi, Lawan; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajuba; Lagos-based cleric, Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai; former Imo governor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha; Mr Jack Rich, Cross River governor, Ben Ayade; Ebonyi governor, David Umuahi; former Zamfara governor, Ahmed Yarima; Governor Yahaya Bello of Ekiti state and Ogbonnaya Onu, former Technology Minister.
