Delegates of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have massively endorsed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s flagbearer for the 2023 Presidential elections.
Over 2,300 delegates converged in Abuja on Tuesday to elect the party’s flagbearer for next year’s elections.
Voting started early Wednesday as delegates took turns to cast their ballots to choose one candidate to lead the party come February 2023.
Fourteen candidates secured their bids to contest in the ruling party’s flagbearership primaries.
Three prospective candidates withdrew from the race before voting could start.
All three upon their withdrawal declared support for Asiwaju Tinubu, former governor of Lagos popularly known as the “Godfather of Lagos”.
By this endorsement, Tinubu will face Atiku Abubakar of the opposition PDP and other candidates come February 25, 2023.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi and Senate President Ahmad Lawan were Tinubu’s keen contenders.
President Muhammadu Buhari who retires after serving his two term mandate did not declare support for any of the candidates.
He urged delegates to choose a “knowledgeable, fair-minded nationalist to lead the party as the next president of West Africa’s most populous nation.
At the end of the contest, the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu garnered a whopping 1271 of the total valid votes cast to clinch victory.
His closet contender, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi managed to pull 316 votes.
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Siting Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.
The following is the detailed results of the just ended All Progressives Congress Primaries:
Hon. Chukwuemeka – 1 vote
Dr. Dave Umahi; ongoing – 38 votes
Pastor Bakare – NO VOTE
Sen. Ahmed Rufai Sani – 4 votes
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi – 316
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo – 235 Votes
Sen. Rochas Okorocha – Zero Vote.
Governor Yahaya Bello – 47 votes.
Jack Rich – Zero.
Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu – 1 vote
Sen. Ahmed Lawan – 152 votes
Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade – 37 votes
Chief Mukelu – ZERO VOTE
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu- 1271 votes