Senator Hayatu, Akpabio Emerge Winners as 3 PDP Parallel Primaries Hold in Enugu State

Godswill Akpabio

The Peoples Democratic Party in Kano State has endorsed the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Bello Hayatu, as sole candidate of the party to contest the Kano North senatorial seat in 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 513 delegates from the 13 local government areas which made up the senatorial zone endorsed Hayatu.

The ratification was conducted in Bichi on Sunday.

Addressing the delegates after the ratification, the INEC Head of Operation in Kano office, Alhaji Haladu Boyi, said: “Kano North senatorial primary election is the most peaceful and transparent witnessed by the commission.

“We are fully satisfied and believe that the delegates from this senatorial zone are organised people because of their good conduct during this exercise.’’

In his remark, the Director-General of Senator Bello Hayatu Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Bello Gogori, expressed appreciation to the delegates for endorsing the candidate to contest the senatorial seat in 2015.

Gogori appealed to all delegates to work very hard and ensure victory of the party at all levels in 2015.

Representatives from the police, SSS, NOA and PDP headquarters attended the election.

Akpabio wins senate ticket for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District

In Uyo, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom emerged the unopposed candidate of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

Akpabio emerged after the incumbent, Senator Aloysius Etuk, stepped down for him on the grounds that the constitution of the PDP was not disposed to monopoly of senatorial seats by individual.

Etuk said that the decision to step down was followed the outcome of the numerous consultations with major stakeholders of Ini and Ikono Federal Constituency and the party’s hierarchy.

He said that he had to step down for Akpabio for the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to have a feel of the seat.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the election, Akpabio commended the serving senator for taking a bold step to drop his ambition for him.

He said, ”What Senator Etok has done today is what many people did for me while I was contesting the governorship election in 2007.

“I will not disappoint you all for giving me this support.”

NAN reports that former Special Adviser on Security to ex-Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, secured a ticket to contest the Kwara Central senatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the results of the primary election, read by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Alhaji Mustapha AbdulWahab, in llorin, Aluko polled 83 votes to beat Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, who had 81 votes.

Other contestants at the election were Hajia Bilikis Gambari who had five votes; Alhaji Lasisi Jimoh polled three votes, while there were three invalid votes.

Several security operatives in mufti and uniform were strategically stationed in all parts of the venue of the election to ensure law and order.

Efforts to speak with Aluko, the winner of the primary election proved futile as he left the premises immediately the result was announced in company of some security men.

Reports from Nsukka, Enugu State, showed that there were three PDP separate senate primaries on Sunday to elect a candidate to be the party’s flag bearer for Enugu North Senatorial Zone.

One of the polls held at Government Field Nsukka; another took place at Nsukka Civic Town Hall Achara road, while the third was at GRA, close to Government Field.

At Nsukka Government Field, accreditation started at about 12.05 p.m. while delegates voted under tight security by police, civil defence corps and other law enforcement agents