By Yusuf Adua
Over 49% of the total valid votes at the just concluded PDP presidential primary election were cast for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to blow kisses of defeat on nearest challengers, Nyesom Wike and Senator Bukola Saraki.
The contest between fifteen aspirants who hoped to become the People’s Democratic Party’s flag bearer in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election decided yesterday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja was not a keen duel.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who clinched the ticket four years ago, wracked up 371 votes out of 751 total valid votes.
While former governor of Ekiti state, Dr Ayodele Fayose, Chief Charles Ugwu, and accomplished pharmacist, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa could not garner a single vote despite having five minutes each to speak passionately to the 774 potential adhoc delegates selected from each local government in the country, eventual runner-up and governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike pulled 237 votes while former president of the senate and two-term Kwara state governor, Dr Bukola Saraki managed 70 votes.
TWISTS AND TURNS
At about 8:30 pm when final accreditation was ongoing, Sokoto state governor and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor Aminu Tambuwal mounted the stage to announce his unprecedented withdrawal from the race and urged his potential voters to pitch their tent with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Also, renowned economist Dr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen officially pulled out of the contest citing obscene monetisation of the process as his rationale for bowing out.
THE CONVENTION
Earlier, News Live Nigeria had received the order of programmes but the shreds of events dismantled the framework. The event did not start until late in the evening.
The Chairman, PDP Convention Committee, and Returning Electoral Commissioner for the 2022 Presidential Primary Election, Senator David Mark welcomed the party members and promised a harmonious convention.
Declaring the convention open at exactly 6:37 pm, the chairman of the party, Dr Iyorcha Ayu revealed that the country need to wake up from the APC’s outlandish propaganda and usurp the reign from the ruling party.
“Don’t lose hope, don’t give up on Nigeria. PDP is coming to the rescue,” he assured.
Another speaker at the convention and the secretary to the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu brought the gathering up to speed on the state of the party.
Senator Anyanwu opined that the PDP had remained stout and strong in withstanding the nefarious efforts of the ruling party APC to dump them into the cleaners.
He added among others that “the PDP since the new excos took over had been taking necessary steps to deepen democracy in the country”.
On the political performance of the party in the last six months, he divulged that the party won 3 area councils and 44 councilorship positions in the recently held election in the FCT.
THE EXTRA FIVE MINUTES
Every aspirant was given at most five minutes to roll their last dice and convince potential voters. The order was arranged according to their first name’s alphabetical order.
Alhaji Atiku AbunakarAbubakar lauded the orderliness and organisation of the convention and declared that the convention would be the last before his party return to power in 2023.
Dr Nwachukwu Anankuenze disclosed that he was sponsored by Nigerians in the diaspora to restore good leadership which had been absent in the country.
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim explained that ” Nigeria is a nation in search of nationhood” and the PDP need to devise a means to make Nigeria great again.
Another aspirant, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state highlighted the importance of determination in the bid to rescue and restore Nigeria.
Former Ekiti state governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose who didn’t get a single vote during the election, recounted how he defeated two incumbents when contesting for the gubernatorial seat on two separate occasions.
“If I were a prophet, I would be making a lot of money. I told you in 2019 that President Muhammadu Buhari would be a failure”, Dr Fayose who felt he had the penchant for defeating incumbents said boldly.
Dr Mohammed Hayatu–Deen did not show up for the five-minute soccer punch.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state charged the PDP members to have a deep sense of introspection to pull the party to victory.
Also, Mr Dele Momodu told the congregation how his 29-year-old dream which he nurtured when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief MKO Abiola, and Alhaji Babagaba Kingibe slogged it out in the SDP primaries came to reality.
Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and the only female contestant, Mrs Tari Daina Oliver felt that the time is right for the PDP to return to power.
The latter also added with zeal and energy that bringing power back to the local government is the panacea to Nigeria’s ailments.
Senator Bukola Saraki who eventually came third in the election charged the party to be decisive in making the most defining decision in the country. He branded himself ” the Nigerian for all Nigerians”.
Sokoto state Governor and former speaker of the house of representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal reminded the people that the country is at present, at a crossroad.
“We are compelled to work together to win together”, he hinted. This comment justified his decision to join hands with another candidate later in the contest.
Chief Charles Ugwu alongside eventual runner-up Governor Nyesom Wike also canvassed for votes but the Rivers state governor added that he would support anyone who clinches the ticket of the party.
ELECTION
At exactly 8:07 pm, the electoral chairman, Senator David Mark announced the commencement of the election.
Additionally, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state rolled out the number of accredited voters.
VOTING CRITERIA
Each local government in the country was to produce a delegate that would vote in the election. Although the delegates were supposed to include 774 party members, only 767 delegates were present for accreditation.
Kano state had 44 delegates (only 43 were present for the final accreditation) while Oyo and Akwa Ibom had 33 and 31 respectively. Meanwhile, Ebonyi, Gombe, and Bayelsa states presented thirteen, twelve, and eight delegates respectively.
VOTING
At exactly 8:52 pm, the minority leader in the house of representatives, Honourable Ndudi Elumelu moved the motion for the commencement of voting and was seconded by the only PDP member in the house of representatives from Sokoto state, Honourable Mani Maishinko.
The party adopted an open-secret ballot system as agents of the contestants inspected the ballot papers meant for the election. An action ably led by the agent for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Dino Melaye.
This reporter understands that mobile phones or recording devices were not allowed in the voting area.
ELECTION RESULT
Although it was announced that there were 763 total votes, News Live Nigeria can confirm that the sum total of the votes is 764.
There were 764 total votes in the election out of which 12 of the votes were void and 751 were valid.
Tari Oliver Diana and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa had 1 vote each. Chief Anyim Pius Anyim was able to poll 14 votes while Governor Udom Emmanuel racked up 38 votes.
Governor Bala Mohammed accumulated 20 votes making way for Senator Bukola Saraki who amassed 70 votes to be ranked third.
Governor Nyesom Wike bulked up 237 votes to make way for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the party’s flag bearer for the second time running who thumped other contestants with a total of 371 votes.
To validate the election, this reporter gathered that delegates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) including Professor Kunle Ajayi, Ken Modibo, and ten others were on the ground to witness the election.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar expressed his gratitude to his supporters as they made a fundamental decision in the political process of the land.
He furthered that he would unify his party and the country at large if trusted with the mandate.