Uzodinma wins, Ododo favoured as APC holds guber primaries in Imo, Kogi

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, 2023 off-season governorship election in the state.

Uzodimma polled 63,618 votes to emerge winner in yesterday’s special congress in Owerri in which he was the sole candidate.

Kogi State’s Auditor General, Alhaji Ahmed Usman-Ododo, was heavily favoured to claim the party’s governorship ticket after nine other aspirants stepped down for him on Thursday night, hours before yesterday’s direct primary, while it was a straight fight in Bayelsa State between the immediate past minister of petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 election, David Lyon.

Uzodinma, in his post-nomination speech, said he would cherish his victory in for “a long time to come.”

He described it as a “mark of confidence from the members of our great party and the entire Imo people at large.”

He added: “God does not make mistakes. For a long time we have been praying for God to change our situation in Imo State and I think God answered the prayers.

“We have no other state than Imo State; we cherish democracy, we borrowed from our past mistakes and past experiences. Before I came out I first prayed to God and since I have done that, God has not disappointed me.

“We had our challenges, man-made problems and obstacles but God in His wisdom handled it in his way. You would agree with me that where we met Imo State when we came and where it is today, there is huge difference. And if that was what touched your hearts to challenge me to continue, what you have just told me is to do more work.”

He pledged to do “my best not to betray” the trust placed in him.

He prayed that God might give him the courage, wisdom, knowledge and resources to “take Imo State to its destination,” especially in fighting insecurity.

He said: “This Imo State you see today would have been three times better if not for the huge money we spent fighting insecurity but God Almighty has intervened.

“So fear not, for God is with us. They may harass you and call you all sorts of names, even kill you, but don’t be afraid. By November, God will intervene.

Chairman of the party in the state, MacDonald Ebere, said the governor has performed well in his first time to deserve a fresh mandate.

The chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, Rear Admiral William Kayode (rtd) said that the committee conducted the primary election in line with the provisions of the party constitution, electoral act and the 1999 constitution as amended through direct primaries in all the 305 wards in the 27 local government areas.

“This exercise has been very hitch free, peaceful and with the support of the governor, it has been rancour free.”

Ododo on course to win in Kogi

Kogi State’s Auditor General, Alhaji Ahmed Usman-Ododo, appeared to be the man to beat in yesterday’s direct primary of the APC held across the state after some of his opponents stepped down for him.

Usman-Ododo is the anointed candidate of Governor Yahaya Bello who met with all the party’s aspirants on Thursday.

Those who stepped down for him were Deputy Governor Edward Onoja , the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, Mr David Adebanji-Jimoh, a former Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Ashiru-Idris, Okala Yakubu and Momoh Jubril.

Chairman of the primary election committee, Gov. Mohammed Bello-Matawale of Zamfara State, said after Thursday’s meeting that “all other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s direct primary election to be held across the state.

“The gentlemanly agreement was reached and announced at a stakeholders meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja,’’ he said.

Governor Bello described the primary election as very peaceful, orderly and successful.

Bello, in a statement by his Chief Press secretary, Onogwu Mohammed, said: “We are so glad that we haven’t received any report of violence or any crisis from Kogi East, Kogi Central and Kogi West Senatorial Districts.

“This has been our prayer from day one that the primary election of our great party this time be devoid of any crisis or violence to reflect the people’s will and aspiration.

Bello asked members and supporters of APC to respect the outcome of the election soon to be announced by the Zamfara Governor led primary election committee.

He called on all and sundry especially party members to respect the outcome of the primary so as to move forward and obtain victory at the November 11 governorship election in the state.

Sylva, Lyon in tight contest in Bayelsa

Six aspirants entered for the APC governorship race in Bayelsa State but the two front runners were the immediate past minister of petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 election, David Lyon.

Chairman of the party`s Primary Election Committee, Retired Maj.-Gen. A.T Jubrin, told reporters in Yenagoa after a stakeholders meeting yesterday that Mr Ogbomade Isikima, Prof. Maureen Etebu, Mr Festus Daumiebi and Joshua Maciver were also on the ballot.

Jubrin said that the committee had put all necessary measures in place to ensure a rancour free exercise.

He said election would take place in all the 105 wards in the state through option A4.

The chairman said that all members of the party, whose names were on the party’s register, would queue behind their preferred aspirants.