Former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has won the presidential primary of the party.
The chairman and returning officer of the primary, Atiku Bagudu, who is the governor of Kebbi State, declared Tinubu winner of the primary with the highest votes of 1,271.
Tinubu, who scored 1,271 votes reportedly defeated the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi (316 votes), the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (253 votes); the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan (115 votes); and the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello (47 votes).
Others defeated by Tinubu are the Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi (38 votes); the Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade (14 votes); the former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima (2 votes).
Tien Jack Rich and Pastor Tunde Bakare scored zero vote.
Eight votes were voided out of the total 2,322 votes from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Before the commencement of voting by the delegates, six co-aspirants, including former Minister of Niger Delta and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, among others stepped down for Tinubu.
Tinubu will nownhave to contest the 2023 presidential election with Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Mr. Richard Akinnola, has congratulated Tinubu on his victory at the primary.
On his Facebook page, Akinola posted: “Congratulations, Asiwaju Tinubu, the presumed winner of the primaries.
“In any contest, there must be a winner. However, I’m very proud of my choice of support in the person of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“I have no iota of regret over my support for him. It was a privilege to play a pivotal role for him during the process. I would gladly do it over and over again. It’s a matter of conviction.
“And for all our supporters and other volunteers who worked assiduously, day and night on the PYO project, God bless you all. I’m so proud of all of you.
“As l often say, God rules in the affairs of men and He has a purpose for what just happened. Understandably, many of you are dispirited and downcast but do not let your heart be troubled. There must be a reason God allowed this. It may not be manifest to us now but later as He is all knowing.
“I am unfazed, unbowed and proud of PYO. Our supporters, abeg, make una shake it off. No be say person die, Life goes on. No yawa.”