By Our Reporters
LAGOS—THE nationwide senatorial primaries of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) churned out a mixed grill
of shocking and expected results.
Senate President David Mark, who is vying for the Benue
South position for the fifth time, led a crop of incumbent
senators who were handed return tickets.
Others include Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu,
Senators Joshua Dariye, Enyinnaya Abaribe, James
Manager, Zaynab Kure, Smart Adeyemi and Emmanuel
Paulker.
However, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), who
aspired to return to the Senate for the fourth consecutive
time to represent Cross River Central, topped the list of
senators who were denied return tickets. In this category
are Senators Uche Chukwumerije (Abia), Nenadi Usman
(Kaduna South), Odion Ugbesia (Edo) and Margery Okadigbo
(Anambra North.)
On a day that multiple candidates emerged in Anambra,
Ondo and Bayelsa some serving governors were also given
the green light to try their political luck in the Senate. In this
list are Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Jonah
Jang (Plateau), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Muázu Babangida
Aliyu (Niger).
Fresh faces that were handed tickets include Bisola Sodipo-
Clark, wife of Ijaw Leader and Elder statesman, Chief Edwin
Kiagbodo Clark; serving House of Representatives member,
Uche Ekwunife; former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella
Oduah; Buruji Kashamu and Ben Murray-Bruce.
Benue South: Mark returns unopposed
Senate President Mark polled 384 votes to emerge winner of
the Benue South Senatorial primaries. His only challenger,
Chief Mike Onoja, withdrew from the race shortly before the
commencement of voting citing, “national interest and unity
of the Idoma nation” as part of his reasons.
In his acceptance speech, Senator Mark praised Onoja for
stepping down even as he dedicated the mandate to Idoma
people.
He said he was humbled by the overwhelming endorsement
by his constituents and pledged that, “whatever makes for
the peace, unity and overall development of Idoma nation
would be my guiding principle.”
Dariye wins in Plateau Central
Former Governor of Plateau State and incumbent Senator
representing Plateau Central Senatorial zone, Joshua Dariye
was chosen as the PDP candidate of the zone.
Dariye, who got the ticket for his first tenure on the platform
of the Labour Party sought to return to the PDP to recontest
the seat but was initially rebuffed by the state chapter of
the party even when the National Secretariat of the Party
gave him a waiver.
He defeated Nde Alexander Molwus, incumbent House of
Representatives member representing Pankshin/Kanke/
Kanam, Emmanuel Go’ar.
Multiple candidates elected in Anambra
The perennial problem of multiple candidacy, which has hurt
the PDP in Anambra State played out again, yesterday.
While Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Andy Uba
(Anambra South) and Stella Oduah (Anambra North),
emerged as candidates, another primary also held in Awka
returned Senator Annie Okonkwo as the candidate for
Anambra Central.
Mrs. Uche Ekwunife representing Anaocha/Njikoka/
Dunukofia federal constituency in the House of
Representatives in one of the primaries scored 237 votes,
beating Senator Annie Okonkwo (57 votes), Obiora Okonkwo
(one vote), Chief Osita Ezenwa(12 votes), Chief Kodili
Okelekwe (26 votes) and Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (three
votes).
Ekwunife was declared winner by the returning officer, Mr.
Ifeanyi David after the primary election held at the Alex
Ekwueme square, Awka.
However, Senator Annie Okonkwo, yesterday, emerged as
the candidate in the exercise conducted by the Ejike
Oguebego-led state executive of the PDP. He scored 282
votes to Ekwunife’s 14. Chief Sylvester Okonkwo got 7
votes, Chief Obiora Okonkwo had four while Mrs. Christy
Okorie got 11 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had
in a statement recently, recognized Ejike Oguebego as the
state chairman of PDP.
In Anambra North, former aviation minister, Princess Stella
Oduah picked the ticket by defeating the incumbent senator,
Mrs. Margery Okadigbo, while Senator Andy Uba emerged
winner in Anambra South senatorial zone.
Oforma, Azubogu, Ohanezi declare themselves Reps
candidates in Nnewi
In like manner, three contestants for the House of
Representatives for Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo
federal constituency of Anambra State, yesterday, declared
themselves winners in parallel primaries they conducted at
three venues in the industrial town of Nnewi.
For the exercise that took place at Nnewi Youth League hall,
Mr. Julius Oforma was announced winner with 121 votes.
At another exercise later at Anaedo Social Club, Nnewi, the
incumbent member of the House of Representatives for the
area, Chief Chris Azubougu was declared winner with 105
votes out of the total 123 votes cast, while at Kings Palace
Hotel, Nnewi, the third aspirant, Dr. Harry Ohanezi was
declared winner.
In all the three venues, no election materials were used and
it was unclear who authorized those who described
themselves as the returning officers to conduct the
exercises.
Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba loses re-election, vows to
appeal
Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba lost the bid for
re-election to the Senate on the platform of the PDP for the
fourth time as John Owan Enoh defeated him in the
senatorial primary for Cross River Central Senatorial
District.
But the Senate Leader has rejected the outcome of the
exercise and vowed to appeal it.
In the tensed contest surrounded by intrigues, Senator
Ndoma-Egba got 37 votes against Enoh’s 217. Enoh who is
serving his third tenure in the House of Representatives is
Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation.
How Chukwumerije lost in Abia
In Abia, Governor Theodore Orji won the party’s ticket for
Abia Central unopposed. He scored a total of 221 votes to
be declared the winner by the returning officer, Chief Ndidi
Okereke.
The election which was monitored by INEC officials was
held at the Umuahia Township Stadium amid tight security
provided by the Abia police Command whose commissioner,
Adamu Ibrahim was physically present to supervise his
officers and men.
Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, who was screened and cleared to
contest the election with Governor Orji, boycotted the
exercise, citing lack of confidence in the processes leading
to the primaries as her reason. She had alleged that the
whole exercise was manipulated and skewed towards some
preferred aspirants in the state.
In Abia North, it was a big upset for Senator Uche
Chukwumerije who was roundly defeated by a former
member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Mao
Ohuabunwa. He polled 103 votes against Chukwumerije’s
21 votes. Chief David Ogba Onuoha came second with 67
votes.
In Abia South, the incumbent, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
won with 169 votes. He defeated his only rival, Comrade
Princewill Onyekachi Ojeh who got only two votes.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Orji commended the
way the exercise was conducted, saying that it “enhanced
democracy.”
It’s Jang on the Plateau
Governor Jonah Jang
became one of the
serving governors to be
given a senatorial ticket.
He got 273 votes to
emerge as the PDP
Senatorial candidate for
Plateau North Senatorial
zone. He defeated former
Ambassador to Ukraine,
Ibrahim Kasai who
scored 18 votes. 291
delegates participated in
the exercise.
All other federal
constituencies where the
exercise took place
recorded success as Governor Jang’s candidates emerged
winners.
Among those who won the House of Representatives
primary elections are the immediate past Attorney General
and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Edward Pwajok,
who emerged winner for Jos South/Jos East Federal
Constituency; the immediate past Commissioner for Works,
Chris Hassan (Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency) and
Istifanus Gyang (Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency.)
Others are Engr. Solomon Maren (Mangu/Bokkos Federal
Constituency), Timothy Golu (Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam
Federal Constituency), Beni Lar (who retained her position
to represent Langtang North/Langtang South Federal
Constituency) and Johnbull Shekarau (Mikang/Qua’an Pan
Federal Constituency.)
Bayelsa: Murray-Bruce, Paulker win
Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, Downstream
sector, Senator Emmanuel Paulker and former Director
General, Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA), Mr. Ben
Murray Bruce emerged as PDP candidates representing
Bayelsa Central and East Senatorial districts respectively.
In the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator
Emmanuel Paulker polled 174 votes. His closest rival, Austin
Ogionwon Febo scored 17 votes while Ebiundu Komonibo
scored one vote and Torunana also had one vote.
In Bayelsa East Senatorial District Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce
polled 138 votes beating Mr. Anthony Ikoli, SAN, (11 votes),
Nelson Belief (two votes), Mrs Irene Digitemie Opuene (four
votes). Austin Dressman and Professor Ayebaemi Spiff
withdrew from the race.
…Mild drama as Lokpobiri also emerges in parallel exercise
However, there was a mild drama in Bayelsa West
senatorial district as parallel primaries were held leading to
the emergence of former chairman of the state scholarship
board, Evang. Fister Ogola and the incumbent Senator,
Heineken Lokpobiri as candidates.
The primary which returned Foster Ogola was held at the
State College of Education hall in Sagbama and had in
attendance the state Governor, Seriake Dickson; former
state Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi. The aspirants
were Evang Foster Ogolo and Ayakeme Whiskey, Dr. Stella
Dorgu, Frank Akpoebi and Capt. Matthew Karimu.
The primary that returned Senator Heineken Lokpobiri was
held at the Sagbama Community Primary School 2 and was
attended by PDP faithful including former commissioners
and incumbent member representing Sagbama constituency
III of the State House of Assembly, Ebamugha Empere.
At the State College of Education venue of the primary
election where the state governor participated, Foster Ogola
was returned as winner with 69 votes out of the 113 votes
cast.
The dramatic entry of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to the
venue as the returning officer Offorji Oboku was about to
announce the result caused a stir as some delegates
hurriedly left the hall.
Senator Lokpobiri, who had earlier been declared absent
during accreditation confronted the returning officer and
demanded to know what he was doing.
He later walked out of the venue and returned to the venue
of the parallel primaries that returned him.
Dickson maintained a studied silence during the ensuing
drama as he was shielded by his security aides to prevent
any ugly incident.
Dickson, while commenting on the outcome of the election,
urged members of the PDP family to work together to
ensure the emergence of credible representatives that would
give effective support to the re-election bid of President
Goodluck Jonathan.
Ekweremadu returned in Enugu
Following the withdrawal of Governor Sullivan Chime,
Deputy Senate Ekweremadu vied for the for Enugu West
Senatorial zone PDP ticket unopposed and was returned
with 294 valid votes cast by delegates from all the five local
government areas in the zone.
Parallel primaries in Ondo produce Olajumoke, others
A member of the PDP BOT, Dr Bode Olajumoke yesterday
won the primaries to represent Ondo North senatorial zone
in the National Assembly.
Dr Olajumoke was in the senate between 2007/2011.
Although parallel primaries were held in the three areas, but
INEC and representatives of the national secretariat of the
party only attended the primaries organised by the new
PDP.
The incumbent senator representing Ondo central, Senator
Ayo Akinyelure was the only one returned of the three
senators that were elected on the platform of Labour Party
in 2011.
A former Commissioner for Work Yele Omogunla was
elected to represent Ondo South senatorial district.
Speaking with Vanguard, Dr Olajumoke said he would
continue from where he stopped in 2011 and promised to
bring dividends of democracy to the people of the area.
Akwa Ibom picks Akpabio, Albert, Effiong
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State, yesterday,
emerged the unopposed Senatorial candidate of the PDP for
Ikot Ekpene zone. The incumbent, Senator Aloysius Etuk had
earlier stepped down for him as a result of numerous
consultations held with major stakeholders in Ini and Ikono
Federal Constituency.
In Uyo Senatorial District, former governorship aspirant,
Obong Bassey Albert also slammed the incumbent, Senator
Ita Enang to clinch the ticket just as Nelson Effiong, former
Speaker of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly had the
upper hand in Eket Senatorial District.
Delta North Senatorial primary postponed, as Amori,
Manager emerge in Central, South
The political atmosphere in the Delta North Senatorial
District, yesterday thickened following the unexpected
postponement of the PDP senatorial primary in the district
to Tuesday (tomorrow) because of what sources attributed
to logistics problem.
At the Delta South Senatorial District, incumbent Senator,
Senator James Manager clinched the ticket with 291 as
against the 13 votes scored by Air Vice Marshall Terry
Okorodudu (rtd), the only other contender in the senatorial
primary held at the Warri Township stadium.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who withdrew from the race
for the Delta South ticket a couple of days to the primary
was present to cast his vote as a delegate and left almost
immediately.
Source: Vanguard
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