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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is today conducting its primary elections nationwide to elect governorship candidates that would fly its flag in the February 2015 elections.
As usual, PREMIUMT TIMES correspondents have been dispatched to the various election centres across Nigeria to bring you live updates of the primaries.
Based on current permutations, the contest is expected to be fierce in Rivers, Lagos, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ogun, Taraba, Imo, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom States because of the political gladiators angling to pick the party’s tickets in the states.
However, primaries will not hold in Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Anambra, Bayelsa and Kogi states because there will be no election in those states in 2015. The serving governors were elected at different times over the past four years.
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12.34
LAGOS
At the venue of the gubernatorial primaries of the Lagos Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in Ojota.
Six aspirants are contesting to fly the party's ticket in next year's governorship election in Lagos, but Musiliu Obanikoro and Jimi Agbaje are seen as the major contenders.
Over a dozen police patrol vans and police officers, armed with AK 47 rifles, numbering over 100.
Journalists and delegates are still barred from the venue "until they are told to come in," according to a security guard at the gate.
12.40
OGUN
The stage is set for the primaries at the party secretariat located along Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta.
Policemen and other security operatives have taken positions at different strategic locations. Police screening those qualified to enter the premises
However, there are speculations that the national secretariat of the party has ordered a temporary suspension of the congress.
As at 11.20a.m. delegates are yet to arrive the venue.
The party chairman, Dayo Bayo, is said to be holding a closed-door meeting with one of the party officials from the headquarters of the party in Abuja.
Journalists are as at now at door step of chairman's office to interview him over update on the conflicting report about the congress
12.43
RIVERS Voting has been completed in Rivers, and counting of ballots has started. Former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, seems to be ahead of the other contenders.
12.51
KEBBI
Accreditation of delegates has commenced.
The exercise commenced at about 10:11 a.m at the Haliru Abdu Stadium, opposite Cabinet Office in Birnin Kebbi.
The exercise is peaceful so far, with delegates and officials conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
Twelve aspirants are expected to contest in the primaries.
12.55
OGUN
The Chairman of the PDP in Ogun State, Dayo Bayo has just ended a closed-door meeting with one of the electoral committee member, Yakubu Abdullahi.
Mr. Abdullahi later left the secretariat although he assured the chairman he would get back to him on phone.
Mr. Bayo prevented journalists from gaining access to Mr. Abdullahi for interview.
In an interview with journalists, the chairman said he had no instruction to halt the congress.
But it is clear there is confusion of some sorts.
12.58
Armed police officers are still blocking the venue of the Lagos PDP primaries.
Delegates and journalists are still outside. And more police patrol vans and police officers are arriving.
13.03
OGUN
Delegates screening commences
12.43 p.m: Former Deputy Governor, Salmot Badru, walked into the venue alongside Iyabo Apampa, a notable women leader of the party.
12.43 p.m: One of the governorship aspirants Kayode Amusan, walked in, accompanied by three armed mobile policemen.
12.46 p.m: Adijat Olaleye, member of Ogun State House of Assembly walks in.
12.51pm: Another governorship aspirant,Gboyega Isiaka, walks in with police escort.
13.09
RIVERS
Nyesom Wike wins Rivers
Former Minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike, has emerged as the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers state.
He scored 1083 votes out of a total of 1108 delegates votes.
“My victory is victory for democracy,” he said. "I will reclaim the stolen mandate of the PDP and recover what is rightly ours in rivers state. The era of rascality and impunity has caused Rivers state dearly. Today, the state enjoys a pariah status.”
13.16
OGUN
1.07 P.M: Buruji Kashamu, controversial moneybag of the South-West PDP, arrives the venue of the primaries, accompanied by about 50 bouncers.
13.26
AKWA-IBOM
Voting is expected to commence by 2:00 p.m. in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital city.
Although there are over 20 aspirants under the ruling PDP, immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel, is widely expected to clinch the ticket. He has the blessings of governor, Goodwill Akpabio.
13.32
RIVERS
Controversy trails Rivers State PDP primaries as 17 out of the 24 aspirants cleared to contest the election boycotted the event held in Community Secondary School, Nkpolu in Port Harcourt. Only seven of the aspirants attended.
13.33
NASARAWA
The primaries in Nasarawa state is taking place at the auditorium of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa.
Delegates are being accredited at the institution's Guest House and would be moved to the venue afterwards.
The state chairman of the party, Yunana Iliya, arrived the venue at about 12.pm and inspected facilities.
Labaran Maku, former minister of Information, came to venue about 1.28pm in company with well armed security operatives and exchanged pleasantries with people around.
Nine aspirants are contesting namely: Aliyu Akwe Doma, Labaran Maku, Musa Husseini, Jibrin Yakubu, Solomon Ewuga, Chris Mamman, Yusuf Agabi, Damishi Luka, and Mike Abdul.
13.36
KEBBI
Accreditation of delegate for the Kebbi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries has commenced.
The exercise commenced at about 10:11am at the Haliru Abdu Stadium opposite Cabinet office Saturday in Birnin Kebbi.
The exercise commenced in a peaceful atmosphere with delegates and officials conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
12 aspirants are expected to contest in the primaries.
Meanwhile, the primary election in the Kebbi Central Senatorial District is still inconclusive with the emergence of Abubakar Gari-Malam withdrawing from the governorship race to join the Senatorial election.
Buhari Halidu Jega was expected to emerge unopposed following the earlier withdrawal of Sen Adamu Aliero.
13.43
NASARAWA
The primaries in Nasarawa state is taking place at the auditorium of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa.
The state chairman of the party, Yunana Iliya, arrived the venue at noon to inspect facilities.
Labaran Maku, former minister of Information, arrived the venue at 1:28 p.m. in company of well armed security operatives.
Nine aspirants are contesting the ticket: Aliyu Akwe Doma, Labaran Maku, Musa Husseini, Jibrin Yakubu, Solomon Ewuga, Chris Mamman, Yusuf Agabi, Damishi Luka, and Mike Abdul.
13.45
IMO
The primary in Imo is taking place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. Accreditation of delegates is ongoing.
Already, delegates from seven out of the 27 local government areas of the state have been accredited.
The stadium is almost filled to capacity. Security operatives have taken over the gates to the stadium and are frisking those going inside.
13.51
PLATEAU
Journalists barred from Plateau PDP governorship primaries
Many journalists could not gain entrance to the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, Plateau State where PDP governorship primary election will hold. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that only 20 pieces of press tags were handed over to the officials of the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists even though there are about 100 reporters from eight chapels covering the state.
Armed police officers deployed to the stadium to provide security for the exercise are chasing away journalists without press tags. The security personnel explained that they were given instruction not to allow journalists without the tag into the venue. Journalists with the National Identity Card of the NUJ and those of individual media organisations were turned away by the police.
The acting chairman of the PDP in Plateau State, Raymond Dabo, could not be reached for comments as he did not pick a call made by PREMIUM TIMES reporter, seeking to know why the press tag could not be given to all the reporters.
There is tight security in and around the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos where the primary election is holding. Business places within the stadium have been shut while all streets linking the area were barricaded since Sunday evening. Meanwhile, as at 1:00 p.m. the exercise was yet to commence. No single delegate can be sighted at the venue now. Only the security personnel can be sighted.
14.10
PLATEAU
Plateau State has a total of 826 delegates for primaries.
Those jostling for the ticket include the incumbent Deputy Governor, Ignatius Longjan; the three serving senators, Gyang Pwajok, and Victor Lar, Sunny Tyoden; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, John Clark; the immediate past Speaker of Plateau state House of Assembly, Hezekiah Jimka; a retired Commissioner of Police, Nandom Pyennap; a serving House of Assembly member, John Alkali; an architect, Haruna Dabin; and the immediate past PDP chairman in the state, Third Republic Governor of the state, Fidelis Tapguz.
Others are Godfrey Miri, a retired state Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Jimmy Cheto, Kemi Nshe, a serving Council chairman of Shendam, Jonathan Sheni, a retired civil servant, Rufus Bature, a pastor, Jonah Wuyep, former Chief of Air staff, Joseph Golwa, Bitrus Nabasu, Longmas Wapmuk, the immediate past Director General Industrial Training Fund ITF. One of the aspirants and a former senator, Cosmos Niagwan died a week before the final screening of governorship aspirants.
14.30
AKWA-IBOM
Voting is about to commence in Akwa Ibom primaries, holding at the International Stadium. The venue is secured by about 300 security officers.
Over 1,100 delegate from the 31 LGAs of the state are waiting to vote. The delegates were acrredited without hitches. Delegates are already seated waiting to votes.
The state governor, Godswill Akpabio, has arrived the venue.
14.34
BAUCHI
The PDP gubernatorial primary in Bauchi State is yet to commence.
There are few party officials inside the Multipurpose Hall, Wunti, venue of the event. Security personnel are all over the place.
The aspirants include a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yahyale Ahmed, former Minister of State for Health, Ali Pate, Auwal Jatau, Senator Adamu Gumba, Alhaji Bappa Azare and Senator Babayo Gamawa.
There are indications the former SSG to Bauchi State, Aminu Hammayo has withdrawn from the race.
14.37
LAGOS
As at 1.30 p.m., still nothing in Lagos.
Armed police officers are still blocking the entry to the venue. In fact, their duty has been bolstered by the arrival of two police dogs.
The crowd outside the venue has increased to hundreds of delegates, party supporters, and area boys.
No aspirant has arrived yet.
But a Black Maria is here.
14.39
LAGOS
Gun shots and tear gas by the police.
14.40
Bode George and his wife, accompanied by about half a dozen police escort vehicles, have just arrived.
The gunshots and tear gas canisters fired by the police have stopped.
But journalists, who had huddled by the gate during the police shootings, remain locked outside the venue.
14.48
KADUNA
In Kaduna State, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Steve Oru, has addressed the delegates and journalists on the rules and procedure for the primary election.
The Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the state governor, Mukhtar Yero, and other top members of the PDP members from the state are at the Murtala Square, Kaduna, venue of the elections.
Voting has commenced with statutory and ad-hoc delegates from Sanga Local Government Area of the state.
Among the contestants are Mr. Yero, former senator, Haruna Aziz, Hassan Hyat, Lawal Yakawada and John Ajeye, a retired Air Commander have all stepped down for the governor.
Unconfirmed reports say Messrs. Hyat, Yakawada and Ajeye stepped down for Mr. Yero following the vice president's intervention at a meeting held last night.
Meanwhile, the governor has earlier declared today a work-free day to enable citizens who have not collected their Permanent Voters Card, PVC, to do so.
15.06
PLATEAU
As at 2:30 p.m., no delegate or party officials has arrived Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the PDP governorship primaries holding in Plateau state.
A musician hired to perform at the event is currently entertaining the security personnel and a few journalists who could gain entrance to the venue.
Some journalists have left the venue because the exercise is yet to commence.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that delegates of the PDP governorship primaries are confined to an undisclosed hotel within Jos. Some of the delegates cannot be reached on their mobile phones.
15.35
NASARAWA
The Nasarawa State PDP gubernatorial primary election has been moved from the auditorium of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, to the institution’s Guest House where the accreditation is going on.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mark Neto, said that the change in venue was effected to forestall the disruption of the exercise by the students of the institution.
15.36
AKWA-IBOM
Voting has commenced in Akwa Ibom State with delegates from Abak Local Government Area taking their turns.
Some of them that are breaching the process have been asked to take their seats. The process is going on smoothly.
15.38
SOKOTO
In Sokoto, accreditation of delegates has just begun at the Giginya Memorial Stadium.
Those in contention for the PDP governorship ticket in the state are the incumbent Deputy Governor, Mukthar Shagari, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco and former senator, Abdallah Wali, former Minister of Sports, Yusuf Suleiman, and a former senator, Abubakar Gada.
15.41
NASARAWA
An aspirant in Nasarawa State and serving senator, Solomon Ewuga, has complained that a woman who was not as delegate was allowed to come into the venue of the primary election. The woman whose name is not known has been walked out of the venue by the police.
15.44
OGUN
PDP NWC Cancels Ogun Governorship Primaries
A press release from the headquarters of the People's Democratic Party is claiming the Ogun governorship primaries have been cancelled. The release is published below.
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cancelled the conduct of the Governorship Primary election in Ogun state. For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC hereby states that it did not authorise any governorship primary in Ogun state. Consequently, any such exercise held in Ogun state is hereby declared null and void and of no effect. A new date will be communicated for the primaries. Signed: Olisa Metuh National Publicity Secretary.
16.09
CROSS RIVER
Frontline aspirant, Goddy Agba, walks out of Cross River primary election venue
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship contest in Cross River State, took a turn for the worse on Monday, when a leading contender for the governorship seat of the state, Goddy Agba, opted out at the twilight of the primary election.
The aspirant, in a statement issued in Calabar by his media consultant, Phrank Shaibu, said that his withdrawal was hinged on the grounds that the delegates’ congress list was fraught with irregularities.
"The party has confirmed our initial suspicion and fears that they were desperately committed to excluding Prince Goddy Jedy Agba from all democratic processes leading up the fulfilment of his gubernatorial ambition," the statement said.
"From the initial proclamation that he was not a member of the party to the cancellation of the November 1st ad hoc delegate congress, his purported suspension from the party and now, the mutilation of the delegates list, it is doubtful that the playing field for the intended Cross River State PDP Governorship primaries would be sufficiently balanced, rather it is likely to lean in favour of the outgoing state Governor’s purported choice of candidate.
“Anyone, that understands Nigerian politics a little should know how important it is for an incumbent State Governor to see that his successor covers his tracks.
“However, this should not be a crucial role for the PDP’s appointed panel in redefining how a democratic process of electing the next governor of a State in a civilized society should be. Otherwise, if allowed, it will amount to deprivation and oppression of the electorate. In turn, this may bring about chaos and active or passive rebellion by many people.
“Even when one does not feel a sense of worry for the PDP if it loses Cross River State to another Party in the governorship and general elections, it is time our political leaders learnt how to take decisions that would build our democracy than destroy it. Democracy is about more than holding elections. A real and true democracy should reflect the will of the people.”
16.13
OGUN
Voting in progress in Ogun despite order by the PDP national leadership to suspend the exercise. At the time it did, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who is a delegate was absent.
Also absent were some governorship aspirants such as Tony Ojesina, Yanju Lipedem Remilekun Bakare, Sarafa Ishola, Yomi Majekodunmi, David Bamgbose, Isiaq Akilade and Rafiu Ogunleye. Similarly, there was no member of the Electoral Committee from the party's national secretariats to conduct the election.
16.13
AKWA IBOM 21 governorship aspirants, led by Ambassador Assam Assam, walk out in protest in Uyo over what they called adulterated delegates list. Governor Godswill Akpabio's anointed candidate, Udom Emmanuel, may be declared winner.
16.19
AKWA-IBOM
Voting ends in Akwa Ibom
Voting ends in Akwa Ibom State and collation is in progress. Frontline aspirant, Udom Emmanuel, hailed the process. He says he had never seen a primary election that was as peaceful as the ongoing process. Senators Effion Bob, Emmanuel Ibok Essien, Aloycius Etuk and the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Udo Kirean, also commended the process.
16.22
AKWA IBOM
Vote sorting has been completed, counting now in progress. So far, the name of Governor Goodwill Akpabio’s preferred candidate, Emmanuel Udom, is a frequent occurrence in the vote count.
16.31
LAGOS
Things have become calmer now. But the gate into the venue remain blocked by police.
Police have continued to harass journalists, this time using dogs to chase them from the gate of the venue. And journalists are threatening to boycott the event.
Earlier, before police began firing shots, some hoodlums were seen sharing guns out of a bag.
About half a dozen people are now locked up inside the Black Maria.
16.33
KADUNA
Former Minister of Aviation, Hassan Hyet, Abdullahi Yakawada and Samson Ajeye have stepped down for incumbent, Ramalan Yero, we have onfirmed. The contest is now between incumbent and Haruna Zego Aziz. [caption id="attachment_172701" align="aligncenter" width="526"]
Kaduna state governor, Ramallan Yero, in White cap, voting at the primaries.[/caption]
16.39
KATSINA
Reports we are reaching from katsina state say eight out of the nine contestants for PDP Governorship has stormed out of the venue of the election protesting irregularities.
16.41
AKWA-IBOM
As counting progress, Governor Akpabio’s candidate have scored 87 votes in the two local governments of Issien Udim and Ikot Okpene Local government.
The other 24 candidates are yet to score a vote.
16.46
AKWA-IBOM
I'll still be around as an elder statesman - Akpabio
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has commended the ongoing primary election in the state, saying the process has been transparent.
The governor, who emerged a senatorial candidate of the PDP on Sunday, said he would support whoever emerges after the exercise because he wanted the will of God and that of the people to prevail.
He said he needed somebody who could sustain the good governance in the states and improve the living standard of the people.
He prayed for the state to get money to enable his successor to continue with the development and legacies he already initiated.
Mr. Akpabio, who leaves office at the expiration of his second term in office next May, said he would still be around as an elder statement to offer advice on what should be done in the state.
17.00
KADNUNA
Voting has been duly completed by 1009 delegates from the 23 Local Govt Areas of Kaduna State. Counting has also commenced with Chair, Electoral Panel, Steve Oru sorting out ballot papers while Agents watch keenly.
17.20
TARABA
From all indications, the primary election in Taraba state may not hold today as the state’s acting governor, Sani Danladi, just led a delegation to the Wadata Plaza secretariat of the PDP in Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES was told that the acting governor and other top members of the party are protesting the composition of the approved delegates list which they say favours the immediate past acting governor, Garba Umar.
A source, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak and who is in the delegation to PDP headquarters told this newspaper that “if the leadership of the party refuses to do something about this apparent bias, we will have no option than to leave the party”.
17.29
KANO
Screening yet to commence
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano is yet to commence full screening of delegates that will elect the party’s flag bearer for the February 2015 governorship poll.
The exercise will be conducted at Marhaba Cinema located at Firm Center and it will commence between 6 and 7pm.
About 2,000 delegates are expected to participate in the exercise. The breakdown of the figure shows that there are 1,452 Ad hoc delegates; 220 other delegates, who include are former chairmen of local governments; secretaries; treasurers; youth and women leaders; and 50 special delegates who are ministers, ambassadors, former Speakers of the National Assembly and the current serving House of Assembly members.
Eight governorship aspirants are vying for the ticket. Some of them are Mohammed Abacha, son of the late Head of State, Sani Abacha; Salihu Takai, Akilu Indabawa, and Mansur Ahmad. Others are Mustapha Mantaleta, Abba Muhammad and Bello Gwarzo.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Musa Danbimi, told PREMIUM TIMES that negotiation for withdrawal of some of the candidates was ongoing.
17.31
NASARAWA
Aspirants of the Eggon extraction, namely Labaran Maku, Chris Mamman, Solomon Ewuga, are currently holding a meeting at the venue, presumably to pick a consensus candidate among them.
17.33
ADAMAWA
Delegates have began voting at the Adamawa State governorship primary election holding at Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja.
The election was moved to the federal capital after the party cited security challenges in the North East state.
In the meantime, only one aspirant, Nuhu Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is at the venue of the event.
17.49
TARABA
Delegates waiting to vote at the Taraba PDP governorship primary in Jalingo, the state capital, have been told that the election committee members were yet to arrive.
The acting governor, Sani Danladi, took some of the state lawmakers and local government chairmen to Abuja to demand the postponement of the primary. Mr. Danladi is alleged to be working for a powerful cabal opposed to the former acting governor, Garba Umar.
Mr. Umar is believed to be favoured by majority of the delegates.
17.55
PLATEAU
The Organizing Secretary of PDP in Plateau State, Michael Dachung, has given reasons for the delay in commencement of the primaries in Plateau state.
Mr. Dachung, who spoke exclusively with PREMIUM TIMES at the Rwang Pam Stadium at about 4;27 pm, said the delay was as a result of late arrival of electoral officials charge with the responsibility of conducting the primaries from the national headquarters of the party.
"The officials arrived late, which necessitated the delay, but we have concluded screening of delegates, they are already seated, they were screen at the three senatorial zones of the state," he said.
Meanwhile, some aspirants said they not comfortable with the ballot boxes provided. Victor Lar, Godfrey Miri and Chris Bature, in separate interviews with journalists shortly after they arrived the venue, observed that the transparent ballot boxes provided could compel delegates to vote for the candidate sponsored by the state government for fear of victimization.
Aspirants who arrived venue of the primaries as at 4:30 pm including the lgnatius Longjan, Gyang Pwajok, Sunny Tyoden, Victor Lar, Chris Bature, Kemi Nshe, Godfrey Miri, Hafuna Dabin, John Clark and John Alkali has arrived venue of the Primaries at about 4:pm.
Also, a former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu and Speaker of the Plateau state House of Assembly, Titus Alams, came in at about 4:27 pm and are already seated.
Meanwhile, a few journalists have been allow assess into the venue, though many do not have the approved press tag.
18.01
PLATEAU
Governor Jonah Jang and his wife, Talatu, and the National Legal Adviser of the PDP arrived venue of the governorship primaries at about 4:53 p.m. The acting Chairman of the party in the state, Raymond Dabo, has since arrived. The national anthem has been sang signifying the commencement of the exercise.
18.07
ADAMAWA - ABUJA
L-R Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmadu Fintiri, Adamawa governorship aspirant, Nuhu Ribadu, and Senator representing Adamawa North, Ahmed Barata, at the venue of ongoing PDP Adamawa governorship primary election in Abuja.
18.09
NASARAWA
One of the nine aspirants on the platform of the PDP in Nasarawa State, Musa Husseini, has withdrawn from the race.
Mr .Husseini who addressed the panel headed by Adolphus Wabara, a former Senate President, in the presence of the other eight aspirants, said he withdrew for Aliyu Akwe Doma, a former governor of the state.
Mr. Husseini, is a former attorney general and commissioner for Justice in the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu.
18.11
SOKOTO
In Sokoto, the primary election has commenced. So far, only delegates from three out of the 23 local governments have been accredited.
18.15
LAGOS
Delegates screening still ongoing at the gate of the venue of the primaries.
Jimi Agbaje arrived five minutes ago to chants of "JK is OK. JK is Ok!"
Gani Taofeek, the Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, have allowed some selected media houses - print and electronic only - into the venue.
18.19
NASARAWA
Former information minister, Labaran Maku, is protesting the delegate list of Akwanga West ward in Akwanga local government.
Mr. Maku was frantically raising his hand to complain but the chairman Mr. Wabara said that the list was given to him from the national headquarters of the party and that he has no power to change it.
18.19
OGUNOgun PDP elect Gboyega Isiaka as 2015 governorship candidate
The Ogun PDP has elected Gboyega Isiaka as its governorship candidate for the 2015 general elections.
Mr. Isiaka, who recently defected to the party from the Labour Party, LP, defeated his major opponent, Kayode Amusan, scoring 705 votes against Mr. Amusan's 150.
The primary was conducted in spite of a statement by the national secretariat of the party, ordering a postponement.
18.28
ABIA
Abia PDP elects governorship candidate
Okezie Ikpeazu wins Abia PDP governorship election ticket, securing 487 votes to beat seven other aspirants at a primary in Umuahia
18.30
KADUNA
Incumbent Yero wins in Kaduna
Gov. Yero has emerged winner of the PDP gubernatorial primaries with 970 votes to defeat Sen. Aziz who got 1 vote.
Total number of votes cast 972. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero :970 Zego Aziz: 1 Invalid vote: 1
37 delegates abstained.
Governor Yero have been declared winner in Kaduna primaries.
18.46
DELTA
Voting has commenced in Delta State. Delegates are filling out according to their local governments to cast their votes. There are 25 Local Government Areas in the state.
18.53
PLATEAU
Pandemonium has broken out at the PDP governorship primaries in Plateau state; as aspirants and agents reject ballot boxes provided because they label with names of local governments.
All the aspirants threatened to workout of the venue of the election should the electoral panel insist on using the labelled transparent ballot boxes.
Reacting to the protest, the Chairman of the Panel, Abdullahi Ohioma, said: "After due consultation, we have decide to removed the label on the ballot boxes, so that the election can commence."
The chairman could not, however, stop the protest, as the venue has become rowdy.
The Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, addressed security officials deployed to the venue to maintain law and order. The security personnel are manning the empty ballot boxes.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ohioma, in a welcome address shortly before the protest, said the panel had accredited 818 delegates who would be voting by open secret ballot secret, in accordance with their local governments.
The election is to commence with Wase, Mango and Riyom. Delegates have been allowed to cast their votes in any ballot box.
Other members of the panel are Rifkatu Samson, Salisu Magaji, Garba Ibrahim and state acting PDP chairman Raymond Dabo.
A total of 16 aspirants are contesting the Plateau state governorship seat.
Mr. Joshua Dariye who got the PDP ticket to contest the central Plateau senatorial district has arrived.
19.02
AKWA-IBOM
Akpabio's candidate, Udom Emmanuel picks Akwa Ibom PDP governorship ticket
The immediate past Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has been declared winner of the PDP primary election in the state. Mr. Emmanuel polled 1,201 votes to defeat 24 other aspirants. The result was declared by the Chairman of the Election Panel, Bola Oyebowale.
19.10
PLATEAU
The 16 PDP Aspirants in Plateau state have identified some agents whom they described as “fake.” Responding to the development, one of the aspirants and a former governor of the state, Fidelis Tapgun, demanded that all the agents should be thoroughly screened.
"We have a lot of people here with agents tags who are not agents,” Mr. Tapgum told the Electoral Panel."The electoral panel should have brief and identify genuine agents." The former governor also said he will not accept night voting, saying "this place has no light, and it is getting late. So we will not do election in the dark."
Meanwhile, as at 6:25 p.m., the process had not commenced. Delegates and aspirants are in engage in discussions with panel members. Police and other security agents are not allowing close access to the aspirants and members of the panel.
19.15
LAGOS
Aspirant wears bullet proof vest to primaries
One of the PDP Governorship aspirants, Babatunde Gbadamosi, popularly known as BOG, told journalists he wore a bullet proof vest to the primaries to avoid being hit by a stray bullet from the violence earlier today.
Although the party leadership had blamed the incident on thugs from the opposition party, Mr. Gbadamosi said it was PDP thugs that were responsible for the violence.
"I am wearing the bulletproof vest because I am afraid of being shot at but I am urging all my supporters to come and should not be intimidated," he said.
"There is fear of intimidation and some people in the party want to intimidate the delegates but we will ensure that everyone will vote fearlessly and as it pleases them."
He described as "unfortunate" the decision by the party leadership in Lagos to support Jimi Agbaje.
When asked if he was confident of winning, he said, "Would I have paid over N11m to purchase the form if I was not confident?"
19.26
LAGOS
Voting begins in Lagos
The state chairman introduces all the six aspirants, with Agbaje and Obanikoro getting the loudest cheers from the delegates.
Initially, 20 ballot boxes, representing the LGAs in the state were placed before the delegates.
But the chairman said it would be reduced to ten boxes due to "popular opinion."
"Have confidence in the system. We want to build a greater Lagos, people who would ensure that things are done rightly in Lagos.
In the photograph below, some of the aspirants exchange banters before voting began
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