BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR
THE national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has come and gone but the issues evolving from the voting pattern by the states are articulated underneath.

While some in the President’s camp may be celebrating, the votes indicate the necessity for the President to essentially tie up loose ends especially in the Northwest.

Obasanjo and President Jonathan, putting heads together at the PDP convention.

The President, as severally reported, relied deeply on the Governors to deliver their delegates where possible. But at the general election, the Governors will not be at every polling booth to watch over how the votes of the citizenry are cast.

SOUTHEAST

Abia: Jonathan 80 Atiku 1

The voting pattern was particularly not unexpected. The only vote Atiku got from Abia was from PDP board of trustees member, Prince Benjamin Apugo, an ally of zoning proponent, Mallam Adamu Ciroma. As he voted last Thursday, Apugo turned round to show to those around him that he was voting for Atiku. The balance of the votes were commandeered by Governor Theodore Orji in favour of the President who was instrumental to his “deliverance” from the bondage of his former political mentor. One good turn deserves another.

Anambra: Jonathan 47 Atiku 8

This was the home state of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, one of the more visible supporters of Atiku. The former vice president was expected to do more here considering that there is no PDP Governor in the state who could have been under the pressure of the presidency to deliver the President.

Enugu: Jonathan 89 Atiku 9

Governor Sullivan Chime was at one time considered to be on the fence on the Jonathan project and his reported move to defect to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN  reduced confidence in his ability to deliver the state. He, however, surprised critics by suppressing the Atiku tendency to only nine votes, which probably would have come from disgruntled members of the House of Assembly. It is recalled that the Enugu House of Assembly had passed a resolution adopting Atiku as their favoured aspirant.

Ebonyi: Jonathan 82 Atiku 2

Despite the internal haemorrhage among the Ebonyi State delegation to the National Convention, Governor Martins Elechi, the Southeast zonal coordinator of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign was able to deliver almost the whole state to Jonathan.

Imo: Jonathan 125 Atiku 3

Governor Ikedi Ohakim beat his political enemies to it as he completely dispelled persistent rumours of his animosity to the Jonathan campaign with his delivery of the state to the President. Unconfirmed feelers from the state authorities are pointing the three Atiku votes to members of the National Assembly who did not get their return tickets.

NORTH EAST

Adamawa: Jonathan 76 Atiku 31

The unending political spat between Governor Murtala Nyako and Atiku was the deciding factor here. It was an opportunity for Nyako to push forth his assertion that Atiku does not have a base at home and he more than succeeded in canvassing his point. He sought to portray Atiku in the image of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who did not receive the presidential backing of his native Ogun State in the 1999 presidential election.

Bauchi: Jonathan 46  Atiku 44

Bauchi Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda was the Zonal Coordinator for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket and watched sometimes with mouth agape as votes piled up for Atiku from his state. He, however, eventually helped Jonathan to triumph over Atiku by two votes. He was the least performing zonal coordinator. The state government is blaming members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly who lost in the party primaries for playing the spoiler role by wanting to disgrace Yuguda.

Yobe: Jonathan 29 Atiku 20

This was perhaps another shocker from the Northeast. The apostle of zoning, Ciroma who had threatened fire and brimstone was unable to convince his own delegation at home on supporting Atiku! Jonathan was helped by the effort of Mallam Adamu Maina Waziri, the erstwhile Minister of Police Affairs and an ally of former President Obasanjo.

Borno: Jonathan 33  Atiku 26

Despite not being a member of the PDP, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff had in the past forged political alliances and intrigues with the presidency. It would not be ruled out if he had a role in pushing the Jonathan candidacy among the PDP delegation from Borno. Besides, the efforts of Works Minister, Arc. Sanusi Daggash would also have convinced the Borno delegation to the convention.

Gombe: Jonathan 55  Atiku 18

Governor Mohammed Goje has completely buried his presidential ambition and being the smart politician he has always been, he decided to protect his interest. This would not be the first time that Goje would be turning the screws on Atiku. Ahead of the 2007 election, Goje who was once regarded as a famous Atiku crony prior to his emergence as Governor had ditched Atiku during the famous dirty battle between Atiku and Obasanjo.

Taraba: Jonathan 62  Atiku 16

Taraba like Adamawa and most of the states in the Northeast were considered political forts of the former Vice_President. However, his minimal influence in the emergence of the governors played against him. It is as such not surprising that the state did not give him much support.

SOUTH SOUTH

Akwa Ibom: Jonathan 141 Atiku 0

Akwa Ibom was the first to give its 100% vote to President Jonathan given Governor Godswill Akpabio’s frontline role in the Jonathan campaign. Indeed, the governor several times had brushes with the Atiku campaign and it was not surprising that the Atiku Campaign opposed his membership of the National Convention Committee.

Bayelsa: Jonathan 67  Atiku 0

Governor Timipire Sylva, who was once reputed for his lack of loyalty to the famous lucky man from Bayelsa saw the handwriting on the wall after the death of President Yar‘Adua. He has since then been completely faithful and loyal to the Goodluck epistle. It is not surprising that he showed that President Jonathan is a prophet honoured at home.

Cross River: Jonathan  105  Atiku 0

Governor Liyel Imoke confirmed the fact of his coordination of the South_South region with his total delivery.

Delta: Jonathan 114 Atiku 7

Who would have spoilt Dr. Uduagahan’s fun is a mystery. But he will take pride in the fact that he at least gave the majority of the state’s vote to the President. That was despite the warm reception the state delegation gave to Atiku ahead of the convention.

Edo: Jonathan 60  Atiku 0

Atiku had been betrayed several times by some of his loyalists. But the betrayal of the members of the Edo State House of Assembly would pain him. After bypassing Chief Tony Anenih and the State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih to meet with some members of the Edo State House of Assembly in the residence of a former Governor of the State on the eve of the convention, they were not moved to give him a single vote!

Rivers: Jonathan 128  Atiku  2

One of Atiku’s main associates from the State is former Governor Peter Odili during whose term in office he reportedly delivered more than 100% of the votes to President Obasanjo. Odili was this time very handicapped, delivering barely 3% of the state delegation!

NORTHWEST

Kano: Jonathan 21  Atiku 98

The failure of Rabiu Kwankwanso to deliver the Kano delegation to Jonathan is allegedly deliberate. In 2003, he paid the political price of identifying with President Obasanjo when the temperamental electorate in Kano voted him out of office. Now, it is alleged that he is trying to play safe by not rooting totally for Jonathan.

Kebbi: Jonathan 33  Atiku 44

Kebbi folks like many other folks from the zone saw Jonathan’s candidacy as the usurpation of their right. It is not surprising that Atiku was able to push through though Jonathan  equally made a respectable showing.

Zamfara: Jonathan 7 Atiku 70

This was Atiku’s best showing in percentage terms. It is perhaps reflective of the influence of Gen. Aliyu Gusau, one of the consensus aspirants who is from the state.

Sokoto: Jonathan 32  Atiku 84

Despite the groundswell of opposition to a Southern presidential candidate from some sections of the Northwest, Sokoto was expected to play at least a hard nut for Atiku considering the alleged compassion of the President for the Governor of the State at the peak of the judicial onslaught against him in the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP. Besides, the leading Obasanjo apologist from that section of the country is the Deputy Governor of the State, Alh Muktar Shagari.

Katsina: Jonathan 147 Atiku 11

The result of the Katsina vote is a major blow to those who sought to use the name of President Yar‘Adua to propagate zoning. It is also a confirmation of Governor Ibrahim Shema’s political control of the state.

Jigawa: Jonathan 100  Atiku  17

Governor Sule Lamido’s influence in positioning the State vote is unquestionable. He had prior to the convention publicly engaged the Atiku campaign in a war of words. It is as such not surprising that he captured the state for Jonathan.

Kaduna: Jonathan 82  Atiku 41

That Atiku was able to get up to half of what Jonathan got from Kaduna should be a worry for the Jonathan/Sambo campaign considering the Vice_President’s deep political roots and his efforts. It shows that the Jonathan candidacy would still need to woo more folks from the Northwest for a broad national base.

NORTH CENTRAL

Plateau: Jonathan 70  Atiku 5

This was not surprising given the early support for Jonathan by Governor Jonah Jang. Remarkably, the movement of many PDP legislators away from the party to other parties did not negatively affect the President.

Niger: Jonathan 16  Atiku 94

Gen. Babangida was able to deliver his state to a fellow consensus aspirant, Atiku. Could this then mean that Gen. Babangida is presently playing a bigger influence in the Niger PDP than the Chief Servant and Governor of the State? It is alleged that the Niger delegation voted the way they did as an expression of the fact that the Governor was passed over for the position of Vice-President despite his early support for the then Acting Vice-President last year.

Kogi: Jonathan 84  Atiku 24

This is the home base of Atiku’s erstwhile Chief of Staff, Chief Akanmode. To what influence they helped in shoring up his vote is not known, but they were still unable to give the erstwhile Vice_President a good showing in the Confluence State.

Nasarawa: Jonathan 53  Atiku  8

This is a reflection of the early support given the Jonathan project by the state leadership of the party.

Kwara: Jonathan 61  Atiku 26

Never trust a politician. Apart from the consensus candidate himself, Governor Bukola Saraki was the only consensus aspirant who failed to deliver his state to Atiku. It is equally noted that he is the only one of the quartet who vied for the consensus ticket that has age on his side. He as such may have thought over his future and as such cast his lot with Jonathan by ensuring that his state delegation went with Jonathan.

Benue: Jonathan 72  Atiku 15

How Governor Gabriel Suswam, the North_Central Coordinator for Jonathan was able to allow as much as 15 votes to Atiku is bewildering. It could also show the influence of his local opponents, notably Iyorcha Ayu and George Akume.

SOUTHWEST

Jonathan had an almost clean sweep of the Southwest completely dismissing fears in his camp prior to the convention that party stakeholders unhappy with the judicial loses to the ACN would turn against him.

Lagos: Jonathan  52 Atiku 3

Ekiti: Jonathan   76  Atiku 1

Ogun: Jonathan   80 Atiku 3

Ondo: Jonathan  69 Atiku 6

Osun: Jonathan   99 Atiku 1

Oyo: Jonathan   107 Atiku 10