Tinubu wins APC presidential ticket

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has clinched the presidential ticket of the ruling party for the 2023 general elections.

He defeated 13 other aspirants with 1,271 votes as against his closest rival, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi who had 316 votes.

Tinubu also defeated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who polled 235 votes; Senate President Ahmed Lawan with 152 votes; Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello recorded 47 votes while his Ebonyi counterpart, Dave Umahi had 38 votes with Cross River Governor scoring Ben Ayade 37 votes

Senator Ahmed Sani Rufai polled four (4) votes while former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister of State, Education, Chukwuemeja Nwaujiba got one vote each.

Former Imo Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Tein Jack-Rich and Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu had no vote.

Indications of his victory emerged
before commencement of the primary when seven of the aspirants stepped down for the former Lagos Governor during their addresses to delegates.

Former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Senator Godswill Akpabio led the part of the seven aspirants that stepped down for Asiwaju.

Others were Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi; Jigawa Governor Abubakar Badaru; former Imo Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Senator Ajayi Boroffice.

Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani had withdrawn from the race before the convention.

The Eagle Square went into frenzy when the Election Management Committee of the APC announced Tinubu as winner of the keenly contested primary.

Meanwhile, Former Vice President and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, today, has reacted to the emergence of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu as the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the next year’s general elections.

Reacting, Atiku on his verified Twitter page congratulated Tinubu, commending him that his victory confirmed his tenacity.

Atiku tweeted: “Congratulations, @officialABAT, on your emergence as your party’s presidential candidate. It has been a hard-fought contest, but that you prevailed confirms your tenacity.

Following his victory ,Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has sent a strong message to the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to step aside and be ready to be buried come 2023.

Tinubu disclosed this while delivering his message, minutes after he was declared winner of the just concluded 2022 APC convention/ primaries.

In his words: We will roar! We will do it. The Poverty Development Party, PDP, should step aside, be ready to be buried and leave our country for us to rebuild for our children.”

Recall that Tinubu had told Atiku to be ready for him, noting that he would square up with him come 2023.

According to him: On May 29, 2022,Tinubu congratulated Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, winner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP primaries.

While congratulating, former Lagos state Governor said: “I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary.

“I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

“As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

“Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary.”