By Eberechi Pearlrose
Leader of the All Progressives Congress APC,Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won the APC Presidential primaries held between TuesdayJune 7 and Wednesday June 8 2022 at the Eagles Square, Abuja
Tinubu scored 1271 to defeat his closest challenger, Rotimi Amaechi who polled 316 .
The votes as distributed are
Tinubu- 1271
Amaechi- 316
Osinbajo- 235
Lawan- 152
Yahaya B – 47
Dave Umahi- 38
Ayade 37
Ahmed Sani-i 4
Ogbonnaya Onu- 1
Rochas O- O
Mokelu-0
Tein Jackrich-0
Before voting commenced late Tuesday night, Seven aspirants had stepped down for Tinubu
They are.Senator Godswill Akpabio, Gov Kayode Fayemi, Gov Abubakar Badaru,Senator Borofice, Dimeji Bankole, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Mrs Uju Ohanenye.
A few hours to the Special Convention, 13 of the 14 Northern Governors elected on the platform of the APC made history as they agreed on power shift to the South.
They said that their position was based on the spirit of fairness,equity and justice.
According to them,it was proper that after eight years of Buhari’s rule, power should rotate to the South.
The Governors who worked with the President on consensus to pick a successor earlier nominated 5 persons for approval to Mr President but other candidates kicked against the selection and vowed to test their popularity on the battlefield.
The option of Consensus in Section 84 (9),(10) and (11) of the Electoral Act, 2022, states that ” a political party that adopts a consensus candidate should secure a written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the Consensus Candidate
(10) Where a political party is unable to secure a written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, It shall revert to the choice of direct or Indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective position.
Guided by this, the pesident directed that all aspirants cleared should participate in the primaries.
With Tinubu’s win, the stage is set for titanic battle between APC strong man and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party come February 2023.
