Tinubu Becomes APC’s Frontrunner

Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and senator for Lagos West during the Third Republic (1992-1993).

Written by Tomisin Awosika

Jun 8, 2022

Bola Ahmed Tinubu giving a speech in Benue State. 17 May 2022. BOLA AHMED TINUBU.

The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has emerged the winner of the APC presidential primaries held today at Eagle Square, Abuja. Tinubu won with 1,271 votes, leading the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi (316 votes) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (235 votes).

Yesterday, when the primary election began in the afternoon, there were 23 presidential aspirants contesting, but after pronouncements by each of the aspirants, only 14 of them remained in the race to become APC’s presidential candidate. Seven of them withdrew from the race in support of Tinubu. They include: Nigerian lawyer, entrepreneur, and only female candidate, Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye; former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; the senator for Ondo North, Ajayi Boroffice; and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

The former senate president, Ken Nnamani, withdrew from the race without declaring support for any of the remaining aspirants. Nnamani cited APC’s alleged lack of ‘sincerity on zoning arrangements and poor management of primary election activities’ as reasons for his decision to withdraw from the race. The youngest male presidential aspirant, Nicholas Felix, stepped down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

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About the Author

Tomisin Awosika

is a junior editor at The Republic.

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Tinubu Becomes APC’s Frontrunner