APC Governorship Primaries: Hamzat Wins Lagos With 657,917 Votes, 11 Governors Get Second-Term Tickets

11 Governors Get Second-Term Nod

The All Progressives Congress wrapped up its governorship primaries across the country on Thursday, and the results are in: 11 sitting governors have been affirmed for second-term tickets.

In Lagos, Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat pulled off a landslide. He got 657,917 votes. His lone challenger, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, managed exactly one vote. Hamzat, who had the backing of President Bola Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council, said the win was a call to keep pushing the APC’s development agenda in Lagos.

Governor Uba Sani was affirmed in Kaduna with 459,393 votes. Dauda Lawal got his ticket in Zamfara via voice vote, and Dikko Umaru Radda secured 160 delegate votes in Katsina.

The other governors who sailed through: Abba Yusuf (Kano), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), and Mohammed Umaru Bago (Niger). All through consensus or voice votes.

Chinda Takes Rivers as Fubara Bows Out

In Rivers State, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, a known ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, was declared the APC flagbearer after Governor Siminalayi Fubara pulled out of the race on Wednesday. Chinda, running unopposed, polled 268,497 votes across the 23 local government areas.

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, better known as Yayi, emerged unopposed in Ogun after every other aspirant stepped aside. In Gombe, Dr Jamilu Ishiaku Gwamna won with 247,161 votes. Two of his opponents, former Minister Isa Pantami and Senator Saidu Alkali, had submitted withdrawal letters but their names still appeared on the ballot.

In Abia, former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ikoh, was adopted through a resolution signed by 13 of the 18 State Working Committee members after the remaining aspirant, Mascot Uzor Kalu, withdrew.

Kwara and Bauchi Put on Hold

The APC’s National Working Committee pushed the Kwara and Bauchi primaries to Friday, May 22. In Kwara, the exercise was suspended mid-way on Thursday. Party chairman Sunday Fagbemi told reporters the national leadership had ordered the shift but gave no reason.

Eight aspirants in Kwara, including Speaker of the House of Assembly Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, had already stepped down for Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, who is Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred successor.

Two House of Assembly primaries in Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies in Zamfara were also postponed to Sunday, May 24.

Sources: Channels TV, The Nigerian Lawyer, Premium Times, BusinessDay