By Emma Acha, John Amieyeofori, Isaiah Eka, Zubairu Idris
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has been returned unopposed as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 2,895 delegates drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state participated in the exercise.
The delegates were allowed to exercise their franchise through the ballot box though the governor stood unopposed.
The Chairman of the PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee in the state, Sen. Sunday Ambuno, while announcing the result, said that the governor polled a total of 2,818 vote out of the 2,895 vote cast.
Ugwuanyi, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates for the faith reposed in him through their vote.
The governor said that he would repay the gesture shown to him by delivering good and quality leadership.
Ugwuanyi said that his second term would take the state to an enviable height.
NAN reports that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by the Head, Electoral Process, Mr Joseph Ineji and security agencies were present at the exercise.
Other dignitaries that attended the primary election included the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo and Speaker of the State Assembly, Chief Edward Ubosi.
In Rivers State, Gov Nyesom Wike, Sunday, emerged victorious as the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party [ PDP] for the 2019 general elections.
Wike, while making an acceptance speech after emerging victorious at the PDP primary elections, thanked the delegates for electing him.
He said that he would not disappoint the people for placing their confidence in him after the general elections in 2019.
The governor said that he had embarked upon so such infrastructure development to improve the state.
He noted that he had upgraded educational facilities in the state to raise the standard of education.
Wike stressed that the State Government had also improved the health sector by constructing and furnishing general Hospitals in all the Senatorial districts in the state.
The 2019 governorship candidate for the PDP stressed that his administration had improved the security architecture in the State to attract investors.
He said that the government had made Rivers a regional Judicial hub by the rehabilitation of a Federal High court, an Appeal Court and the construction of a National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt.
Wike said that it was his administration that reopened the courts closed down during the last administration due to insecurity.
The governor stated that his administration had provided adequate road infrastructure for the people of the state.
Describing Rivers as one of the safest States in Nigeria, he noted that the reason was the massive investments he provided for the security agencies to fight crime in the state.
‘’ In the past three and half years, we have experienced tremendous economic growth as a result of our investments in the security system which has attracted local and foreign investors,’’ he added.
‘’ As a former council Chairman, a former Chief of Staff and a former Minister, I shall bring my experience to bear in the continued governance of the state,’’ Wike said.
He pledged to provide more democratic dividends for the people in his second tenure in 2019, while asking Rivers people to vote massively to return the PDP to power in 2019.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel and the Returning Officer of the PDP primary elections, Mr Chukwuma Chinwe, said 3,490 voters were accredited for the primary.
He noted that of the 3,490 total votes, 3,345 voted in favour of Wike as the candidate for the PDP Governorship elections in 2019 , with 9 voided votes.
In Uyo, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, same Sunday, in Uyo affirmed by party faithful as the governorship candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 elections
Emmanuel was announced as the candidate by the PDP panel Chairman, Gov. Ayodele Fayose, of Ekiti who conducted the primaries.
Fayose said that Emmanuel polled a total of 3,807 votes out of 3,817 votes cast, adding that 10 votes were voided.
He said that Emmanuel was the only aspirant of the party in the state and explained that the delegates had to vote in order to complete due process in line with the electoral law.
Fayose commended the delegates for their peaceful conduct during the primaries.
In his acceptance speech after his election, Emmanuel thanked the delegates from across the 31 Local Government areas of Akwa Ibom.
He said that his endorsement was an evidence of his acceptance by the Akwa Ibom people.
“Let me thank all of you for this show of confidence. A job well done means more jobs.
“The development of Akwa Ibom is the thrust of PDP. Once more, I affirm that with PDP Akwa Ibom State shall grow from strength to strength.
“We hope the same way we are marching to success today, we will march to success in 2019,” Emmanuel said.
Gov. Aminu Masari in Katsina, emerged flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State for the 2019 election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Katsina, the Chairman, APC Gubernatorial Primary Election in the state, Dr Isa Adamu, said that the election was contested by three aspirants.
Adamu said that a total of 5,627 votes were cast during the primary election.
He said that Masari scored 5,562 votes to emerge winner during the election.
Adamu said that Alhaji Abubakar Ismail Funtua, got eight votes, while Alhaji Garba Dankane, had only one vote.
He said that 56 votes were invalid.
In his acceptance speech, Gov. Masari thanked the delegates for re-electing him as the party candidate for 2019 election.
He assured delegates that he would try to ensure unity among party members for the progress of APC.
Masari also urged those who lost in the contest to support the party candidates so as to ensure its victory in 2019 general elections.
