2023 Presidency: Tinubu floors Amaechi, Osinbajo to pick APC ticket, thanks delegates

 

.To battle Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, others

.We must keep PDP out of power, says Buhari

.Govs Oyetola, Abiodun, AbdulRazaq, others congratulate Asiwaju

.Victory a projection for greater Nigeria- Speaker Obasa

.Primary highly compromised, Yahaya Bello alleges

. As South-East aspirants lament marginalisation

 

 

Obiorah Ifoh, Abuja, Blessing Akorowosi, Osogbo, IBRAHIM QUADRI

, Victory Orimemi, Lagos

 

 

 

Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has emerged the winner of the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential ticket.

 

The National leader of the party won the party’s presidential primary with 1,271 votes defeating his closest rivals; former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi who scored 316 votes, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with 235 votes while Senate President Ahmed Lawan with 152 votes at the APC convention which took place at the Eagle square in Abuja.

 

Tinubu wooed delegates saying he would fight terrorism and insecurity in the country if elected as the next president in 2023 and also commended the other 23 aspirants in the race for conducting what he described as a decent campaign, saying that the competition would eventually make the APC stronger.

 

“Nominate me as the party’s presidential candidate for 2023 because am competent and courageous to serve Nigeria, and deliver good governance,

 

“I have done this in Lagos State as governor for two terms. I humbly ask you to allow me to use theseOurs shall be a land where all Nigerians will have an equal chance and no one is excluded because of his ethnic background, religious creed, place of origin or social status, we are all Nigerians.

 

“By this statement, I seek your help and

support to become our party’s nominee and standard-bearer in the coming February 2023 presidential elections,” he said.

 

Asiwaju contested against thirteen other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.

 

Some aspirants pulled out from the race and urged delegates to vote for Tinubu. Those who stepped down before voting began are Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Robert Boroffice, Ken Nnamani, Ibikunle Amosun, Dimeji Bankole, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Godswill Akpabio and Mrs Uju Ken-Ohanenye.

 

Tinubu would be contesting alongside Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) among others in the 2023 presidential election.

 

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential Flagbearer in the 2023 elections.

 

“Having emerged victorious he has our full and unwavering support.

 

“Now our party must unite behind our candidate to achieve victory at the 2023 elections so that our government will continue to secure our communities, grow our economy and continue the fight against corruption.

 

“During the Primaries, there were factions and disagreements amongst the contestants and now that the process has ended we must build a united front in our party.

 

“In this way, the APC will remain the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. Now it is time to put the process behind us.

 

“Because what we can all agree is that the APC remains the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. But the way to demonstrate that we can get on with this job is to unite.

 

“The movement we created in 2013 is beyond individuals. Together, we made history by becoming the first party in our country’s history to unseat a party in power and propel our candidate into the Presidency through a peaceful democratic transfer of power.

 

“We strongly believe that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will safeguard and improve on this democratic achievement and legacy. He is the right candidate for Nigeria’s aspiration because he is the APC’s candidate and under the continued stewardship of our party. Nigeria can achieve greatness and fulfill its destiny in Africa and the World.

 

“The high point of this extraordinary convention of our party was the energy of the Presidential aspirants and it is from amongst them that we have chosen the most popular leader.

 

“I recognize and commend the enthusiasm and self-confidence amongst our party men and women.

 

“I also thank the delegates for making the right decision leading to the emergence of our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

 

Also, Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has congratulated the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the just concluded party’s special convention in Abuja.

 

Oyetola described the emergence of Tinubu as a victory for democracy and pointer to democratic sustenance in the country.

 

The ruling party held its Presidential Primary between June 7th and 8th, 2022 where 23 aspirants including the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Imo and Rivers States’ Governors, Rochas Okorocha and Rotimi Amaechi among other aspirants contested.

 

Governor Oyetola, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan expressed confidence in the ability, competence and administrative acumen of Senator Tinubu to take the country to enviable heights ever known in history.

 

Oyetola noted that the emergence of Senator Tinubu in a hitch-free electoral process was a clear indication the country was on the verge of democratic rejuvenation.

 

According to him, the APC standard bearer would in no doubt consolidate on the track records of President Muhammadu Buhari having being equipped with the required qualities of a good leader.

 

He said, “Your emergence at the just concluded Presidential Primary of our great party is indeed a reward of your tireless efforts and selfless services to Nigeria and Nigerians and of course humanity.

 

“You are not just a leader of leaders but a finest politician who had used his God-given wisdom and wealth to build humanity and advance the socioeconomic fortunes of our dear country.

 

“It is on record that your phenomenal leadership and enigmatic fortress had in no measure contributed significantly to the growth and development of Lagos State where you served as a two-term Governor and of course Nigeria as it is evident in your influence across across the nooks and crannies.

 

“With your antecedents couple with your outstanding credentials in both private and public sectors, I have no doubt in my mind that your emergence will deliver victory for our party in all elections as this will further justify the quest to elect a candidate with unimaginable qualities that cut across spheres of life,” Oyetola said.

Bamidele Omosehin, on Wednesday congratulates the winner of All Progressives Congress’ presidential primary, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The business magnate felicitates with the new APC presidential flag bearer on his landslide victory in the just concluded presidential primaries.

 

 

Omosehin, who congratulated Nigerians on the emergence of Tinubu, said the nation would experience drastic development if he is elected the president in 2023 general elections.

 

 

Emphasizing on the track records of the APC presidential candidate, Omosehin said the turn around being currently witnessed in Lagos State was the outcome of the strategic plan of Tinubu when he was the governor of the state.

 

 

He implored the electorate to vote for the APC candidate, who he described as a detribalized personality who had made impact in the lives of people from different geopolitical zones of the country.

 

 

Omosehin alluded to the appointment of people from different ethnic nationals into his cabinet as the governor of Lagos State.

 

 

According to him, “If we cast our minds back to when Asiwaju Tinubu was the Executive Governor of Lagos State, he appointed some personalities into his cabinet who were from other geopolitical zones.

 

 

“We all can recall how Lagos was before Asiwaju took over as the governor of the state. He turned around all sectors of the state. The state’s Internal Generated Revenue( IGR) appreciated astronomically and rate of infrastructure deficit was reduced.

 

 

“I want to implore all Nigerians with the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) to go out enmasse to perform their civic duties and vote for the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

 

 

“It is pertinent to say this, you can hate him or like him, he  may not be a saint, of course no one is, but he’s unarguably the best candidate for now.”

 

Similarly, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa on Wednesday congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for winning the party’s presidential primary election with a landslide.

 

This was contained a release signed by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele.

 

Tinubu clinched the party’s ticket after polling 1,271 votes to beat Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who scored 235, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who had 152 votes, and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who had 316 votes in the election which had some aspirants including Governor Kayode Fayemi, Governor Abubakar Badaru, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole and others stepping down for the former governor of Lagos.

 

Obasa, who noted that the primary election had every feature of seriousness in a democratic setting, described the outcome of the primary as well-deserved for Tinubu.

 

Describing the election as free and fair, the Speaker commended other aspirants in the exercise “for putting in a good fight. I also specially commend all those who took the last-minute decision to relinquish their aspiration in support of Tinubu, the father of modern Lagos.

 

“The outcome of this primary election is the result of hard work and the support of critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of this country who love Asiwaju. It is interesting and exciting how the exercise, which held under a peaceful atmosphere, ended.

 

“This victory is not for Asiwaju alone. It is for our great party. It is for well-meaning Nigerians who aspire for a greater country,” Obasa said.

 

Obasa also urged for greater support for the APC presidential candidate as the party enters the next stage of electioneering ahead of 2023.

 

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has said the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the just-concluded APC presidential primary showed his acceptability in the north as a bridge builder.

 

Ganduje made the remarks in his congratulatory message to Tinubu through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Abba Anwar, on Wednesday in Kano.

 

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s landslide victory in the just-concluded presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) shows his high degree of acceptability in the north, as a bridge builder,” he said.

 

He said the entire process was conducted peacefully and thanked all those who participated in it for promoting good democratic process.

 

Ganduje expressed optimism that the election would make APC stronger as the 2023 general elections draw nearer.

 

He praised northern governors for their unanimous decision to shift power to the south and also President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting their proposal.

 

“This patriotic decision will further cement all parts of the country.

 

“President Buhari’s role in making sure that democratic principles are safeguarded in the process is highly commendable and exemplary,” he said.

 

Ganduje called on all aspirants that could not make it at the primary election to support the winner in the interest of the party and nation in general.

 

 

Meanwhile, Governor of Kogi State, Yahya Bello have denounced the just concluded All Progressive Congress, APC presidential primary result in Abuja, saying the votes were counted against him.

 

The Governor expressed his displeasure on Wednesday through  a statement issued by Yemi Kolapo, Director, Media and Publicity, Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation.

 

Bello, who was also vying for the Presidential ticket of APC the party, was able to gather 47 delegates’ votes despite Kogi State accounting for a total of 63 delegates.

 

In a statement titled, “Yahaya Bello Remains The Hero Of The Oppressed,” the Governor  revealed a gang-up against him by Northern Governors, alleging that delegates were bribed by paymasters.

 

The statement read, “It is sad to note that those who should know and who many progressives had thought of as leaders with integrity are the ones working against the people they were selected to represent for egocentric reasons.

 

“In this process, one leader stands out, according to the majority of Nigerians. And that leader is one that has proven to the downtrodden and those regarded as “Nigerians without surnames”, that regardless of agelong intimidation by the elite, the best of our people can stand tall without compromising the values that we should have been known for as a nation.

 

“It is obvious that in a bid to prove that he is not one of them, enemies of this project, Nigeria, went beyond speaking with delegates and oiling their palms to ensure that votes that did not represent Yahaya Bello’s popularity were counted against his name. But they have unwittingly made him the hero of the moment.

 

“We do not have to talk much but to pray that God Himself would deliver Nigerians from the hands of enemies of democracy. Poverty is a tool they have used for long to keep Nigerians poor. At the right time, however, this jinx must break!”