APC presidential primary: Buhari gets overwhelming nod for second term

All Progressives  Congress (APC) members across the country yesterday gave President Muhammadu Buhari the nod to fly the party’s flag in next year’s elections as the party commenced the process for the renewal of his mandate.

Although Buhari was the only aspirant  to procure and submit  his nomination form for the presidency on the platform of the party,members trooped out in their thousands yesterday to endorse him in the  direct primaries held in the 36 states and Abuja.

At press time, he had received  the endorsement of 388,653 members  in Rivers State and 202,599 in Jigawa State.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State promised that Buhari should expect five million votes from the state in next year’s election.

The governor, who was impressed by the large turnout of party members for the primary, said: “With these figures of over five thousand votes from my ward, Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local  Government Area, which only come from APC card-carrying members, it is indicative of the fact that our promise of over five  million votes for  our dear President in 2019 election are tenable and realisable.”

He added: ”People should understand that when the general election comes around,  apart from our APC members that would vote for the continuation of the President Buhari administration, many others who belong to other parties would join the queue.

“Not only that, even those that do not belong to any political parties, but have their permanent voter cards will opt for him also.

“The turnout is encouraging. Kano State is always ready to continue to support him.”

He commended the leadership of the party  for the peaceful conduct of the direct primary.

Governor  Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa State  said  yesterday that  Buhari was on course for re-election next year.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Governor Abdul’aziz Yari  of Zamfara State,while former national chairman of the party,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, hailed members of the party in Edo State for defying  the heavy rain in the state yesterday to show their support for the president.

Leader of the party in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor,  said the people of the state are looking forward to next year’s election to renew Buhari’s mandate.

Bindow,speaking after casting his vote at Kolere Ward in the Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State ,said that the developmental strides of his administration were clear indications of Buhari’s qualification for re-election.

He also said the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in the Northeast was as one of the fundamental achievements of Buhari’s administration. He expressed satisfaction with the mass turnout of APC members at the election as well as the peaceful and orderliness at the venue

Why Buhari deserves second term –  Yari

Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State  told party supporters at the Abubakar Tunau Model Primary School polling unit in Talata-Mafara  that Buhari  deserves the votes of well-meaning  Nigerians in view of his  good mission to move the country forward.

He said: ”Even though Buhari is the only presidential candidate of our party, the direct primary was organised to confirm the support of Nigerians for him.

“I am happy with the large turnout of APC members here in Talata-Mafara, and I am impressed with the peaceful conduct of our members,” he said.

No dissenting voice against Buhari in Edo —Oyegun

The immediate past national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said that there was no dissenting voice against the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Edo State.

Chief Oyegun  lauded Edo APC members for the huge turnout at  the presidential primary despite yesterday’s downpour.

“We all queued up in the rain and we were counted. We voted and there was no dissenting voice,” he said.

Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who voted at Ward 11, Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area, hailed the adoption of direct primary, saying:  “The purpose of doing this direct primary has been  achieved today”

He said the APC would have nothing to be afraid of next year only if members could turn out in large numbers as they did yesterday.

Huge turnout in Daura

Party members in  Daura, Kasina State,Buhari’s home town  turned out in large numbers to vote in the presidential primary.

The party members began converging on the voting centres as early as 7am, declaring that they were “very eager” to participate in the exercise.

Abdulmanaf Daura, Organising Secretary of the APC in the Northwest zone, told the News Agecy of Nigeria (NAN) that the large turnout was an “indication that the people believe in the ideals of the ruling party; it shows that our mass appeal is intact.”

Ahmed Elmourzouq, Katsina State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, told NAN that he was particularly impressed with the high turnout of women, saying that the APC-led administration at the state and federal levels would continue to execute projects that would benefit less-privileged Nigerians.

Ali Mani, APC chairman in President Buhari’s Sarkin-Yara Ward, who also praised the large and early turnout of voters, expressed optimism that the ruling party would win all levels of the 2019 general elections.

Delta will return  Buhari next year—Emerhor

Leader of the APC in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, said the people of the state are   desirous of re-electing President Buhari next year because of the high level of his administration’s investment in  infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.

Emerhor spoke at Evwreni Ward 8, Ughelli North Council Area of the state, where he, along with the Executive  Director, Projects, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, voted in  the presidential primary.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the exercise, Emerhor, who is also a Delta Central Senatorial hopeful, said: “Buhari has done a lot for us and the entire Delta State and that is why we are acknowledging him as our president for a second term. From now till the general election, we would not relent in our efforts as this is our best chance to transfer Delta State from the PDP to the APC.

“I believe it is surprising for anyone not to support Buhari because from what we can see, he has done a lot in fighting corruption, insecurity and in developing the Niger Delta”, Emerhor said.

Also speaking on the impact of the NDDC in the Niger Delta, the NDDC Executive Director, Dr Adjogbe, said: “When we were sworn in, we were given the specific mandate to come out and develop the Niger Delta so that the people can feel the impact of the allocation accrued to the commission,

388,653 back him in Rivers

At the close of voting in Rivers State yesterday,a total of 388,653  APC members who took part in the exercise favoured Buhai for a second term.

The election, which had Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi as returning officer, was  witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) electoral officers (EOs) in the 23 LGAs  of the state and police officers.

Rivers Publicity Secretary of