From Aminu Umar, Birnin-Kebbi
Incumbent Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has triumphed over the incumbent Senator, representing the Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Senator Adamu Aliero, by clinching the ticket.
Bagudu, also a two time Senator, edged out Aliero at the party senatorial primary election conducted at Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.
In his acceptance speech, an elated Bagudu expressed delight that the exercise ongoing simultaneously across Nigeria was peaceful, democratic and transparent in the state.
He also happily recalled that Thursday’s APC Gubernatorial primary election in the state was also similarly peaceful, fair, and transparent.
The Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum lauded the delegates for their humility, doggedness and understanding.
“I have accepted the nomination in good faith and I will provide quality representation, as ever.
“This is sequel to the request by the stakeholders of the party in the Constituency for me to contest the seat, penultimate week.
“They had then also did same for the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami,SAN.
“We are both Divinely reminded that power comes from the Almighty Allah.
“Little did we know that the AGF will answer a higher call from our Father, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“For that reason therefore, he did not present himself for the nomination.”
Bagudu also recalled that he had won a similar ticket in 2006, but had to relinquish it to Aliero, because of the ANPP/PDP merger then.
He said, “that was in order to accommodate Aliero who had then just joined the PDP and he was given the ticket.
“We are for peace and the people, and we will never relent in doing this for posterity to positively remember us.
Bagudu averred Nigeria and the progressive trajectory would be sustained.
He urged the members of the APC to continue to mobilize new members, as well as reconcile all aggrieved party faithfuls.
Bagudu commended the delegates, stakeholders, members of the election committee from National Secretariat of the APC, Abuja, security agencies, INEC and other Media for ensuring the successful conduct of the exercise.
Earlier, the retuning officer for the election from the National Secretariat of APC, Abuja , Hon Kelechi Njoku, declared Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu as the winner of the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat primaries .
He announced that Atiku Bagudu scored 445 votes cast by all the delegates thereby clinching all the eight (8) Local Government Areas that made up Kebbi Central while the incumbent Senator, Muhamadu Adamu Aliero has no vote.
“As a Returning Officer, I hereby declare that His Excellency, Governor Bagudu is the winner of the Kebbi Central senatorial primary election of the APC,’ he announced.
The Local Government Areas are Aliero, 50 votes, Birnin Kebbi,75 votes, Bunza, 50 votes, Gwandu,50 votes, Koko Besse, 50 votes,Kalgo,50 votes, Maiyama,55 votes and Jega 55 votes.
The Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) who is the State Chairman of the Election Committee for APC , Kebbi Central Senatorial Zone commended the delegates for their orderliness and exhibiting the spirit of democracy through out the conduct of the excercise .