Bookmakers were yesterday proven right: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congresses were a mixed grill — of thuggery, boycott and confusion.
Here is the picture of how it all went in the states as of the time of going to the press last night:
Lagos
Guns boomed at the Yard 158 Event Centre on Oregun Road, where thugs loyal to some aspirants clashed. Policemen fired tear gas to control the unruly thugs. Former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro and businessman Jimi Agbaje were the front runners.
Dogs were unleashed to bring the situation under control.
Guns, knives, bottles were deployed in the battle of supremacy between supporters of the leading aspirants.
One of the aspirants, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi (aka BOG), wore a bullet proof vest. He told reporters that he was protecting himself from being hit by a stray bullet.
Gbadamosi said: “I am wearing the bulletproof vest because I am afraid of being shot. I am urging all my supporters to come and not be intimidated.
“There is fear of intimidation and some people in the party want to intimidate the delegates, but we will ensure that everyone will vote freely as it pleases them.”
He said it was unfortunate that the party leadership was supporting an aspirant.
The leaders would have their say while the delegates would have their way, Gbadamosi said.
A reporter of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chioma Ugboma, was one of the injured after the melee. The policemen arrested some of the thugs.
As at 3 pm, accreditation of about 900 delegates had not begun.
Former Deputy Governor Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele was barred from the gate by security personnel because she did not have accreditation.
Mrs. Bucknor Akerele tried to call party leaders but it did not yield any fruit. She walked away after being left stranded for over 20 minutes.
There was confusion after voting when the Chief Returning Officer sorted out the votes (863), which exceeded the number of delegates (803).
Ogun
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cancelled the primary election in Ogun State.
A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the PDP did not authorise any governorship primary in the state.
“Consequently, any such exercise held in Ogun State is hereby declared null and void and of no effect. A new date will be communicated for the primaries,” the statement added.
Before the statement, Prince Gboyega Isiaka had emerged the candidate.
Isiaka, who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) during the April 26, 2011 governorship poll, defeated 11 other contestants.
He polled 705 votes. The closest contestant to him, Mr. Kayode Amusan, scored 151 votes. Ten other contestants, including Prince Yanju Lipede, Tony Ojesina and Abiodun Akinlade, scored zero votes.
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the national and state headquarters, including David Asemo, Clement Idoko and the commission’s administrative secretary in Ogun, Dickson Atiba witnessed the exercise.
The primary which was conducted by the Bayo Dayo – led state Executive Committee, began amid uncertainty. Accreditation of delegates could not begin until noon. Voting began at 2: 25p.m amidst doubts that it may not hold, following the directive by the national leadership of the party, which ordered a postponement.
Amusan, Prince Segun Adewale and Isiaka attended. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole, Yanju Lipede and Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade among others stayed away.
Rivers
The Rivers State chapter of People Democratic Party (PDP) Primary election which was held at the open field of Nkpolu Primary School in Obio/Akpor Local government Area produced Chief Nyesom Wike as the candidate.
Wike was declared the winner by the state electoral panel after pulling 1083 of the 1108 votes cast by the delegates from 23 local government areas.
Of the 24 aspirants announced by the electoral panel at the beginning of the election, only six, including Wike, were present at the venue. It was learnt that other aspirants boycotted the primary because of court case on the outcome of the state congress.
At the primary were Senator Lee Maeba, Ibinabo Micheal West, Emmanuel Georgewill, Captain Nwankwo Sunday and Dembari Ben Dimkpa.
Georgewill got one vote. West got three votes and Dimkpa got 21 votes.
Each of the aspirants had one agent. They were assisted by some INEC officials and other observers at the venue of the election.
The election which started with accreditation of the aspirants in the morning before the proper voting by 12pm, ended peacefully. Other aspirants accepted the outcome of the result.
Some of the aspirants said the victory is for the party and noted that the best thing to do by other aspirants is to join the Wike train to deliver Rivers State from the hands of their enemies.
Wike said he was very happy. He dedicated it to God. He also promised to work with other former aspirants ensure victory come 2015.
Wike said: “I am deeply humbled and elated by the electoral success at this state congress of our great party. It is unique and interesting that you have found me worthy to be entrusted with the enormous task to fly the flag of the party in 2015 in Rivers State.
“I dedicate this victory to God Almighty who made the victory possible. It is victory for democracy; it is a victory for all of us who have struggled day and night as foot soldiers of PDP in Rivers State. I hereby invite my follow contestants as worthy gladiators to join hands with us to move Rivers State forward.
“At least, for the task of ensuring victory in Rivers State and the task of ensuring the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. And in my honour I extend the olive branch to all combatants. We should work together to assiduously recover everything.”
Ebonyi
Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Dave Umahi has emerged the candidate.
The primary, which took place at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, was contested by eight aspirants, including, Mr. Paul Okorie, Dr. Aja Nwachkwu, Chief Hycinth Ikpo, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Chief Michael Ude Udumanta and Senator Offia Nwali.
Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, former minister of. Health and some aspirants loyal to Governor Martin Elechi, boycotted the primary.
In all, there were 592 delegates. The chairman of the Ebonyi gubernatorial electoral panel and Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, declared Umahi, who polled 541 votes as the winner.
Other members of the Electoral Panel include Mr. Chineneye Oji, Hajia Hauwa Kida, PDP State Chairman Onwe Joseph Onwe and Hon. Deinma Iyalla.
Umahi thanked God for his victory, stressing that his loyalty to Elechi remained intact even as he asked the Governor to forgive him in anyway he (Umahi) must have wronged him.
Also, yesterday, Senator Anthony Agbo emerged the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate.
Agbo, the only candidate on the ballot, garnered 507 of the 516 votes cast by the delegates.
Nine of the votes were declared invalid by the Anara Chikodi led gubernatorial primaries committee.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) congress was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Cross River
A PDP aspirant, Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba, pulled out of the primary yesterday.
At the primary, which was held at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, former National Planning Commission Executive Secretary Fidelis Ugbo dropped his aspiration.
Ugbo said the same also went for three other – Mike Aniah, Legor Idagbor and Larry Odey. He said they would work for wheover emerged the party’s candidate.
Those, who contested in the election were Ben Ayade, Francis Eworo, Peter Oti, Emmanuel Ibeshi and Joe Agi.
Jeddy-Agba, in a statement issued in Calabar, said his withdrawal was hinged on the grounds that the delegates’ congress list was fraught with irregularities.
“The party has confirmed our initial suspicion and fears that they were desperately committed to excluding Prince Goddy Jedy Agba from all democratic processes leading up the fulfillment of his gubernatorial ambition.
“From the initial proclamation that he was not a member of the party to the cancellation of the November 1st ad hoc delegates congress, his purported suspension from the party and now, the mutilation of the delegates list, it is doubtful that the playing field for the intended Cross River State PDP governorship primaries would be sufficiently balanced.
“Even when one does not feel a sense of worry for the PDP if it loses Cross River State to another party in the governorship and general elections, it is time our political leaders learnt how to take decisions that would build our democracy than destroy it. Democracy is about more than holding elections. A real and true democracy should reflect the will of the people.
“Finally, we are left with no option than to withdraw from the race, for now, but we urge all our supporters to continue to show love to all. No matter how they feel about the process, there is NO room for justice in Cross River PDP. So you must be guarded in your emotions. We must not let our hearts rule our heads, otherwise we may say or do things that would project us as being ungrateful to the Master Finisher, God,” the statement said.
Taraba
The primary election did not hold in Taraba state yesterday.
Delegates and party supporters were seen gathered at the Jolly Nyame Sports Complex in anticipation of the poll, but it did not hold.
Some of the delegates who were simply identified as “UTC delegates” went violent. They attacked supporters of Darius Ishaku who is also contesting the PDP governorship ticket.
Eye-witnesses said they carried cutlasses, axes and other dangerous weapons.
An aide of the aspirant, Stephen Ibrahim Agya, said they were attacked at the PDP State Secretariat while pasting posters of their candidate (Ishaku).
He said 10 of their supporters were severely wounded and two vehicles vandalised.
It was gathered that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has not being able to resolve some of the internal electoral procedures.
Since the commencement of PDP House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship primaries in other states, Taraba has been left behind.
No primary has been conducted yet. No date has also been fixed. Party supporters yesterday said they were confused.
Enugu
A member of the House of Representatives Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday picked the Enugu PDP governorship ticket.
He polled 933 votes against his opponent the Speaker of Enugu House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo’s 26.
Senator Ayogu Eze after disagreeing with the electoral committee over the list to be used, organised a parallel primary where he declared himself winner with 530 votes.
Two of the aspirants, Chinedu Onu and Anayo Onwards stepped down for Ugwuanyi while Sam Onyishi withdrew at the last minute.
Members of the electoral committee include King Asara A. Asara as chairman, Nkiru Ukpai, Saratu Umar, Aleme Adeyemi and Ikeje Asogwa.
At the congress were Governor Sullivan Chime and his deputy, Deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, state chairman of the party, Ikeje Asogwa and his deputy Hon. David Ajah.
Also all the members of the National Assembly from Enugu state with the exception of Senator Ayogu Eze were present.
A former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former national chairman of PDP, Okwesilieze Nwodo, ministers, and all the statutory delegates attended.
Oyo
Former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, yesterday emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.
A major contestant for the PDP ticket, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and three other aspirants shunned the primary. They are: Seyi Makinde, Femi Babalola and Isaac Owolabi. They did not show up at the primary held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium), Ibadan.
Of the 198 valid votes, Folarin polled 167 to defeat his closest rival, Hazeem Gbolarumi, who scored 12 votes. However, Alao-Akala scored two votes. Prof. Soji Adejumo polled four and Dr Azeez Adeduntan three.
In all 211 statutory delegates were accredited for the election. Ten votes were invalid.
The party had held ward congress twice, but the results were rejected by the majority of the aspirants, and consequently nullified by the party’s national leadership. The two congresses were also challenged in court.
Folarin described his election as a great honour and privilege. He promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him .
Makinde, it was learnt last night, went to court to challenge the primary. He was said to have hinged his decision on the Friday ruling which validated the delegate list used for the November 24 ward congress whose result was later thrown away.
Alao-Akala reportedly defected to the Labour Party (LP) as the primary was being conducted yesterday. Unconfirmed reports said the former governor directed his supporters to move to the LP. But a statement from its campaign group, Team Akala, said the governor only appealed for calm among his supporters, adding that he would soon announce the next step after due consultation.
Before he left the venue, one of the candidates, Adejumo remarked that the election was not proper in the sense that aspirants were not allowed to present themselves to the delegates before it began.
He said his observation as raised before the Abba Aji-led electoral committee was dismissed as he (Adejumo) was told that such was not in the guideline given to him.
Adejumo, a former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), expressed reservation about the totality of the exercise, stressing that the idea of using statutory delegates was not in consonance with the party’s constitution as well as the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
Adamawa
Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilari protested the primaries conducted in Abuja which produced former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu.
In an open letter to the National Chairman titled: “Illegal and improper plan to hold Adamawa state governorship primaries election congress at Abuja in flagrant bread of the guidelines,” the governor along with other aspirants – Awwal Tukur, Marcus Gundiri, Abubakar Girei, Brig. Gen. Aliyu Kame and Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed – complained about the sudden change of venue and the change of delegate list.
They alleged that “the list of delegates was changed and substituted by people hat were hired in Abuja while authentic delegate from Adamawa State were left in Yola as they could not be convened because of the sudden change of venue of the primary election.”
There was a huge disagreement over the list of qualified delegates to vote in the PDP primaries in Kwara State.
As a result, the primary was shifted indefinitely.
Katsina
Eight out of the nine governorship aspirants walked out of the Katsina NYSC orientation camp venue after Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema voted.
Those who walked out are: Senator Ibrahim Muhammad Ida, Mr. Kabir Barkiya, Tukur Jikamshi, Nasiru Dutsinma, Ahmed Aminu Yaradua, Musa Nashuni, Nura Khalil, Umar Abdullahi Tsauri and Gide Aminu Yaradua.
Governor Shema had declared Musa Nashuni as his preferred successor. The aspirants declared the process a charade.
Chairman of the electoral panel Abubakar Muazu said the panel noted the observations raised by some of the aspirants “and will adjust the ones that are adjustable but others that are in line with the party guidelines will not be tampared with”
Muazu said 1,372 delegates were accredited.
