Supporters of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, have begun to celebrate after the former governor obtained the highest number of votes in the ongoing APC primary in Abuja.
With 1,000 votes already counted for Tinubu has obtained more votes that all other aspirants combined.
His closest contenders, Rotimi Amaechi and Yemi Osinbajo, who got 316 and 235 votes respectively.
Osinbajo’s chief campaigner, Richard Akinola has already congratulated Tinubu as the “presumed winner” of the primary.
The winner is expected to be officially declared shortly.
Fourteen aspirants in the race are Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Gov. David Umuahi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawal, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.
Nine aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the race including Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye, Dr Felix Nicholas, former Gov. Godswill Akpabio, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, Governor Muhammad Badaru, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The jubilation got intense after the results of Amaechi and Osinbajo were announced.
Some Tinubu’s supporters have also declared a celebration party on behalf of the presidential aspirant.
Former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, had a poor outing.
While Nwajiuba could only garner one vote, Bakare failed to match his grit with action after he recorded no vote.
Selected members of APC have gathered to vote since Tuesday in key primaries to choose a candidate for next year’s election to replace the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
More than 2,300 APC delegates will select a candidate to face 75-year-old Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party among others in the February 25 presidential ballot.
Buhari, who is stepping down after the two terms he is allowed in the constitution, arrived at the Eagle Square convention centre early in the evening before voting was to start.
The Nigerian leader has spent the days leading up to the convention in negotiations with the APC’s leaders seeking unity over a party candidate.
More to follow…
