Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Sunday returned unopposed after polling 2,427 votes out of 2,457 to emerge the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex was ongoing as at the time of filing this report, as only five out of the 23 local government areas in the state had voted as at 8:00pm.
Meanwhile, announcing the APC gubernatorial primaries result at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall of Murtala Mohammed Square kadina, Chairman APC Electoral Committee in Kaduna state, Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen said 2,457 out of 3,200 delegates from the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State voted in the primaries.
According to him, “we have a total of 30 invalid votes, and 2,427 votes for the only aspirant who remain the candidate of APC for the governorship election of Kaduna state
“We hereby return as elected as gubernatorial candidate of APC, Malam Nasir el-Rufai. Your Excellency congratulations,” the electoral umpire said.
Governor El-Rufai in his acceptance speech said he accepted the nomination as a vote of confidence of the delegates in him. He promised to use the mandate of the delegates to work towards the greatness of the state.
The Governor called on the delegates, party members and leaders of the party to support him in the race to win the 2019 gubernatorial election, saying that, “we have traveled far together since July 2013, we have worked together but the journey ahead is still long and rough.
“It’s with delight and humility that I accept your nomination as the party’s gubernatorial candidate. I accept this nomination as your vote of confidence to continue the work. I use my acceptance of your nomination as a mandate not to relent but to continue to work for the greatness of Kaduna state,” El-Rufai said.
Meanwhile, nine aspirants were still slugging it out for PDP governorship ticket.
One of the aspirants, Alhaji Ja’afaru Sa’ad had on the floor of the primaries after two local government had withdrawn from the contest.
The exercise has been very peaceful.
