By Our Reporters
LAGOS—FIRST term governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, easily swept to victory in the party’s gubernatorial primaries held nationwide, yesterday.

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State in an exception was, however, locked in a meeting with the Presidency and party officials at the Presidential Villa with the aim of finally resolving the intractable crisis in the State chapter of the party.

In the bizarre trend that has characterised the primaries and politics in Ogun State, the state chapter of the PDP returned two rival gubernatorial candidates in primary elections conducted in two different venues.

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva (right), and the Deputy Governor, Werinpre Seibarugu during the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries in Bayelsa State, yesterday

The results of the gubernatorial primaries in many of the States were, however, being awaited last night as a result of the late kick off of the primaries. The gubernatorial polls were delayed by the late arrival of materials and polling officials in many States.

In Lagos State the gubernatorial primary was deferred to today, after the leader of the Gubernatorial Electoral Panel, Tunde Morakinyo, declared that the Sky Club venue of the primary was not conducive for the primary.

Among the governors that swept to victory in the primaries, yesterday, were Governors Babangida Aliyu, Niger; Timipire Sylva, Bayelsa; Chibuke Amechi, Rivers; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom; and Jonah Jang, Plateau.

In Bauchi State, the prospects for Governor Isa Yuguda were still unclear at press time despite the withdrawal of one of the candidates, Illyasu Ahmed. His withdrawal left Senator Baba Tela as the only aspirant opposing the governor.

At the Niger State gubernatorial primaries held at the Trade fair complex Minna, Governor Aliyu polled 1029 votes out of the 1049 votes cast. Chairman of the Electoral panel, Dr. Omodeinde Omotayo said:  “The people of our party have spoken and they have spoken well and we have nothing to fear”, just as he declared the governor as the winner.

Acceptance speech

In his acceptance speech, Governor Aliyu said though he was the sole candidate but he still had to go through the election process in order to confirm that “there is internal democracy in Niger State and we have done it without any rancour.”

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State also coasted home to easy victory in the PDP governorship primaries where he was the sole aspirant following the defection of all the other aspirants to the Labour Party.

Despite being the sole aspirant, the governor garnered 756 of the valid votes in line with the regulation which required that a single candidate must still be endorsed by majority of the delegates.

Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, emerged as the PDP flag bearer at the party primaries after polling 904 votes to beat Alhaji Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi who scored 48 votes at the primary election held at the Murtala Muhammad Square.

Hunkuyi, however, protested the conduct of the election and walked out on Vice-President Namadi Sambo and other dignitaries before the results were announced.

In Ebonyi State, Governor Martin Elechi, won the PDP primary election in the state with 634 votes. He was the only candidate in the primary election that was held at the Abakaliki Township stadium.

The Chairman, Governorship Primary Election Panel, Dr. Doyin Okukpe declaring Elechi as the winner of the poll said: “By the virtue of the powers invested in me, I, Dr. Doyin Okukpe being the Chief Returning officer of the gubernatorial primary election in Ebonyi state, do declare Chief Martin N. Elechi winner of PDP governorship primary election in Ebonyi State.
Imoke picks ticket

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State picked the PDP ticket  to contest the 2011 governorship election at the PDP special congress held at the State Cultural Center Complex.

Governor Sule Lamido equally emerged unopposed at the Jigawa State PDP gubernatorial primaries conducted at the Aminu Kano Square. His sole candidacy nonetheless, 1,110 delegates were made to cast their ballots for or against Governor Lamido. At the end the governor emerged victorious with 1100 delegates endorsing him for a second term on the ticket of the PDP.

Governor Lamido expressed his appreciation to the people saying that “he felt humbled, honoured and privileged,” by the support he received from the people.

Governor Chibuke Amaechi of Rivers State emerged as the PDP gubernatorial candidate for the State at the end of polling yesterday evening.

He defeated Mr Celestine Omehia and Mrs Dennisada Ben Fiabema. Omehia, however, had earlier announced his withdrawal from the contest and actually received no votes at the end of the polling conducted by Mr. Dan Orbih, chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Party who headed the electoral panel.

Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State won the gubernatorial primary organized in Owerri by representatives of the National Headquarters of the PDP. Ohakim scored 1,089 votes to win the contest, while leaving the immediate past Deputy Governor of the State and former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Ebere Udeagu and Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, with distant 27 and three votes respectively.
Ogun conducts two primaries

The bickering that had shadowed political events in Ogun continued yesterday as the different factions of the PDP in Ogun State conducted different primary elections that produced rival candidates. While the Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye faction which enjoys the support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo elected former Military Governor of Oyo State; Gen. Adetunji Idowu Olurin (rtd) as its gubernatorial flag bearer at its congress held at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Governor Daniel faction elected former Managing Director of Gateway Holdings; Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka at its congress held at the MKO Abiola stadium.

At the Kuye congress, Olurin polled 754 votes as against Chief Olalekan Ojo’s 8 votes, Revd. Jide Awosedo; 1 vote, Chief Leye Odunjo; 19 votes, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara; 1 vote and Dr. Anthony Ojesina; 22 votes.

But at the Daniel’s factional congress which had in attendance Governor Olugbenga Daniel and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mr. Dimeji Bankole, National Officers of the party led by Col. Abdulmumuni Aminu (rtd) supervised the elections while a team from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from Abuja led by Mr. Dickson Atiba was also at the stadium. Gboyega Nosiru Isiaka polled 831 votes to defeat Olurin who polled no vote, Dr. Kunle Salako; 16 votes and Mrs. Titi Ajanaku 8 votes.

Kwara zones office

In Kwara, Governor Bukola Saraki gave ammunition to agitation against his father’s endorsement of his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki to succeed him when his faction of the PDP in the State resolved to zone the office of governor to Kwara North. His sister who decamped from the party at the prompting of the father is from Kwara Central.

The primaries of the Governor Saraki led faction of the party was, nevertheless ongoing at press time. Before polling started, Governor Saraki had brokered an agreement with party stakeholders on zoning of the office and for a fixed four year term for subsequent governors.

Vanguard reliably gathered that under the unanimous arrangement, the Governorship slot would be rotated among the three Senatorial Districts for a fixed term of four years starting with Kwara North and South Senatorial Districts for the next political dispensation.

Among the aspirants that withdrew ahead of the party’s primaries were Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, Alhaji Abdul_Rasaq Atunwa and Alhaji Folorunsho Ayinla, all from Kwara Central Senatorial District and Engineer  Sunday Adebayo Babalola from kwara south who reportedly withdrew because he submitted to the authority and leadership of the party noting that the state  is greater than any individual.

Chime meets with Presidency

The meeting between Governor Chime on one part and the Presidency and PDP officials Vanguard gathered ,yesterday, was aimed to harmonise positions and offices in line with the 50/50 resolution earlier directed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Presidency’s interventions Vanguard learnt followed strong hints that Governor Chime was set to decamp from the party to another political party following his disagreements with the national chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesileze Nwodo.

PDP governors with return tickets

Ikedi Ohakim – Imo
Jonah Jang – Plateau
Rotimi Amaechi – Rivers
Sule Lamido – Jigawa
Martin Elechi – Ebonyi
Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa – Kaduna
Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu – Niger
Liyel Imoke – Cross River
Godswill Akpabio – Akwa Ibom
Theodore Orji — Abia
Timipre Sylva – Bayelsa

PDP Senators without return tickets

Senator Lee Maeba (Rivers)
Abubakar Sodangi (Nasarawa West)
Effiong Bob (Akwa Ibom)
Eme Uffot Ekaette (Akwa Ibom South)
Simon Oduoye (Osun)
Hosea Ehinlawo (Ondo South)
Joseph Akaargerger (Benue North East)
Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (Cross River South)
Caleb Zagi (Kaduna South)
Usman Jibrin (Kaduna Central).
Mrs. Chris Anyanwu (Imo),
Sylvester Anyanwu (Imo)
Osita Izunaso (Imo)
Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (Cross River)
Gregory Ngaji (Cross River).
Senators George Akume (Benue North West)
Lekan Mustapha (Ogun West)
Nimi Barigha_Amange (Bayelsa)
Idris Abdullahi (Gombe)

Successful Senators

Senate President David Mark (Benue South)
Nuhu Aliyu (Niger North)
Zainab Kure (Niger South)
Dahiru Kuta (Niger West)
Saidu Alkali (Gombe)
Adamu Ibrahim Gumba (Bauchi South)
Patricia Akwashiki.(Nasarawa)
Bode Olajumoke (Ondo North)
Gbenga Ogunniya Ondo Central)
Gyang Dantong (Plateau)
Kanti Bello (Katsina North)
Ibrahim Ida (Katsina Central)
Alloysius Etok (Cross River)
Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna)
Abdulaziz Turabu (Jigawa)
Victor Ndoma_Egba (Cross River)
Odion Ugbesia (Edo Central)
Yisa Braimoh (Edo North)

New Senatorial flagbearers

Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa West)
Danjuma Goje (Gombe)
Olusegun Agagu (Ondo)
Babayo Garba Gamawa (Bauchi North)
Amb Matthew Nwagwu (Imo North)
Joshua Lidani (Gombe)
Chief Barnabas Gemade (Benue)
Kema Chikwe (Imo)
Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman (Kaduna)
Mrs. Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom)
Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom).
Chief Hope Uzodinma (Imo)