Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, has been declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election ahead of the off-season elections billed to hold in November this year.
This is even as results for the same APC governorship primary elections were still being collated in Bayelsa and Kogi States as of the time of going to press last night.
In Imo, the governor who is the sole contestant scored 63,618 to emerge winner of the primary held at Ndubusi Kanu Square, Owerri.
In his acceptance speech, the governor thanked the people for the victory.
He said, “The victory of today’s event is a victory that is dedicated to God Almighty and the victory I will cherish for a long time to come. For me I see it as a mark of confidence from the members of our great party and the entire Imo people at large.
“God does not make mistakes and there is this old saying that one with God is always the majority, Imo State is predominantly Christian’s and even the Muslims in the state are all faithful that are committed to prayers.
“For a long time we have been praying for God to come and change our situation in Imo State and provide us a leadership that people will appreciate and thank God for answered prayers. We have no other state than Imo State; we are our brothers’ keepers.
We have our tradition and culture; we cherish democracy because democracy is government of the people. We borrowed from our past mistakes and past experiences. Before I decided to contest election for governorship I consulted God. I prayed and I got explanation and when I started till today God has never disappointed me.
“We had our challenges – man made problems and obstacles, but God in his wisdom handled it in his way. You would agree with me that where we met Imo State when we came and where it is today there is a huge difference. And if that was what touched your hearts to challenge me to continue what you have just told me is to do more work.
“I want to assure you that this confidence you have reposed on me I will do my best not to betray it. The party is like a vehicle. When you enter a vehicle, all you need is for the vehicle to deliver you to your destination. I pray that God Almighty will give me courage, wisdom, knowledge and resources to take Imo State to its destination
Meanwhile, collation of results for the APC governorship primary election was yet to commence after the conclusion of voting in 105 wards across the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State.
The party adopted option A4 for the direct primary to choose its flagbearer for the Bayelsa State governorship election scheduled for November 11.
At the commencement of voting, members of the party were seen queuing up behind aspirants of their choice or his representative in the presence of INEC officials, security officials and agents of the aspirants.
The votes were collated at the ward level and the relevant sheets filled before it was taken by the INEC officials to the local government collation centres where the second stage of collation will take place before it is finally brought to the national headquarters at Yenagoa for further compilation and announcement of final result.
According to an official of INEC who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend on phone on condition of anonymity, the election was concluded but it is not certain if the collation of results have started or not.
As of the time of filing this report, no result has been declared so far from any of the local government collation centres.
Also in Kogi collation of results for the APC governorship primary election commenced late in the night after the conclusion of voting.
Our correspondent reports that part of the delay was due to the late arrival of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
But a former managing director of Rural Electrification Agency and gubernatorial aspirant of the APC in the state, Dr Sanusi Ohiare, expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primary election.
Ohiare who was among the few aspirants that didn’t withdraw from the governorship race declared that there was no primary election in any part of Kogi State.
Sanusi said this while addressing journalists in Okene Central senatorial district of Kogi State after moving round the district to access the conduct of the gubernatorial primary election of the party.
Ohiare said, “It’s unfortunate because I didn’t take part in any elections. The idea was for us to come out today and vote for an aspirant that will become the candidate that would represent our party in the November election.
“It was meant to be a delegate election and we have gone round to the 21 local government areas of Kogi State and we have sought the support of the delegates. Because of the challenges we had during the congresses, which is exactly what we are having now, that election was annulled in the court and the delegates were declared null and void.
“The same thing is happening now. We are supposed to have a direct primary election with party members coming to vote with their membership cards. To my Dismay, all over the state, people have been out since 8am but the reports I’m getting across the 239 wards is that elections are not held anywhere.
“Although we also heard that some people are seated somewhere writing results that they hope to announce and present to someone that was not voted by the majority of party members. “
Ohiare accused the Zamfara state governor, Mohammed Bello Mattawale, of conniving with party leadership in the state to perpetrate what he termed evil and injustice.
“He said, “This is sad because we should learn from History. Our party has suffered losses in some states, especially Zamfara and a couple of other states. To my Dismay, the same Zamfara State governor that benefited from this loss is coming to perpetrate something that looks like we are going to lose this state again because this is a joke taken too far.”
