APC Convention: Voting ends, as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi emerge as frontrunners
Voting in the All Progressives Congress presidential primary, which began on Tuesday ended this morning with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi emerging as the frontrunners.
Sorting of the ballot boxes will begin shortly. The party primary was characterised by drama as aspirants stepped down for a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Although the convention proper was supposed to have commenced at 3.30pm based on the programme of events, it did not begin until about 7:40pm when President Muhammadu Buhari, arrived.
Although 21 aspirants were in the race, contestants including Governor Kayode Fayemi; ex-Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; a former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Senator Ajayi Boroffice; the Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. The only female aspirant Uju Ken-Ohanenye also stepped down for Tinubu.
A presidential aspirant, Nicholas Felix, who stepped down for Osinbajo said the party could not have a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
In his welcome address, the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, called for a compromise to be reached on all fronts.
The APC national chairman disclosed that it is the bedrock of democracy, which everybody including delegates and aspirants should not be afraid to imbibe.
He stated, “We cannot continue to make our choice out of sentiments or other primordial considerations. That will only invoke in us a wrong choice that we might regret.
“In the course of this decision making, we need to be called upon to make compromises to achieve our goals and objectives as a party.
“Democracy, by its nature, permits such compromises in the spirit of give and take. Indeed, no human society can survive without compromises.
“Let us, therefore, not be afraid of making them with clear conscience and sense of responsibilities,” he urged.
I am serious man with a serious purpose – Tinubu
The party gave aspirants opportunity to address the delegates. An APC stalwart and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, said he was the right person for the party.
He stated, “I sincerely believe that I am the right person this moment calls for. I have the experience, I led the transformation of Lagos from a dangerous, unweloming place to a clean, safe and vibrant place and the fifth largest economy in Africa today. I am a serious man with a serious purpose and I will use all that I know and all my abilities to benefit our people. I’m a unifying leader. I have constructed a formidable structure, one that has delivered electoral victory after electoral victory. I step forward because I believe I can lead our party towards the brightest future.
“I have expertise, my record of corporate leadership, my financial expertise, my experience as an executive governor of Lagos make me unique among all other aspirants, giving me the requisite skill to accelerate the progressives reform that will change the face of our national economy. I cannot on this day talk about a brighter and prosperous future without declaring my determination to fight terrorism and insecurity to the very end. I mourn the lives already lost and want to do everything possible to ensure justice and forever erase terror from our land.
The immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, surprised the gathering as the first aspirant to step down.
Akpabio, who boasted of 93 delegates from Akwa Ibom State, publicly asked them to vote for Tinubu.
He said, “I have seen a man who is older than me and who was the first visionary in governance and that man enabled us to have good governance and development in Lagos State.”
The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs added that he had so many things he would have loved to say about his manifesto but would rather support the next President with the ideas.
He said, “I will join the next President to turn the boys in Nigeria into men. And, therefore, I duff my heart and urge that as I withdraw now, vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Also in their speeches, Jigawa State governor, Borrofice and Bankole also stepped down for the former Lagos State Governor.
But a former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, who announced his withdrawal from the race on Monday, called for a review of the Constitution to address the issue of federal character.
He said, “Today’s convention suddenly has changed. It is no longer based on the zoning principle. I will suggest strongly that we take a second look at the constitution, the area that concerns federal character which gives all parts of Nigeria equal opportunity to feel like an integral part of the country.”
A presidential aspirant, Nicholas Felix, who stepped down for Osinbajo, said the party cannot have a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Delivering his speech, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, argued that the South-East should produce President Buhari’s successor.
He said, “I think naturally, it should be somebody from the South-East that will replace him and give the opposite of South versus North and Christian versus Muslim. It will bring stability to our nation, it wil strengthen the unity of Nigeria.”
He lamented that the South-East was the only region in the South that was yet to enjoy the Presidency.
Onu said, “The South-West has eight years as President, eight years as Vice President. The South-South has also enjoined the position of VP and President. Where is the justice? We need to do what is right.”
Amaechi, on his part urged delegates of the APC to look beyond money when assessing the presidential aspirants.
He said, “Please delegates, assess us by our contributions, don’t assess us by how much we bring here. Because if it is by how much we bring here, ask all of us for our source of income, how we got the money.”
A former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, urged the delegate to consider their conscience so as to put an end to their sufferings.
He said, “I want to say to you my delegates that the hour is come, the die is cast. You must search your conscience, if possible make phone calls to your families and ask them what must I do with the vote that I have, lest you go back again wallowing in hunger and poverty which has left you in perpetual suffering.”
Also, a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, refused to step down, insisting that he was the best candidate.
Yemi Osinbajo – You cannot wish this country well and vote for someone you don’t believe in
After a raucous reception from the crowd, Yemi Osinbajo said:
“You cannot wish this country well and vote for someone you don’t believe in. So our dear delegates, when you vote tonight, know that your votes carry the answers to the prayers for our country and our future.
“Over the past several weeks, I have gone the length and breathe of this country. I have engaged with delegates in the 36 states of Nigeria. You have told me your hopes, fears and dreams. We have reasoned together. I have also served for 7 years as Vice President.
“Our circumstances will not allow the next leader of our country to learn on the job. I will be ready from day one.”
Contrary to the stand of northern governors, two northern governors – the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan – did not step down.
In his speech, Buhari urged the party to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.