Following a re-run gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has emerged winner of the Taraba State Gubernatorial Primaries for the March 11 elections.
The primary election held amidst tight security on 10th February was boycotted by five out of the six aspirants who had earlier expressed reservations about the legality of the rescheduled exercise, namely; David Sabo Kente, Danladi Kifasi, Saleh Mamma, Senator Yusuf A Yusuf, and Senator Anthony Manzo.
OrderPaper Nigeria had reported that Supreme Court in its judgment on February 1, upheld the Federal High Court ruling, which nullified the May 25, 2022 primaries which produced Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and ordered a fresh election within ten days.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court nullifies Senator Bwacha’s guber candidacy
A former Chief of Army Staff and chieftain of the APC, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd), who was Chairman of the Electoral Committee declared Senator Bwacha as winner with a total of 778 votes, while eight votes were invalid. Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, was on ground at the venue in his capacity as Secretary to the Governorship Primaries Committee.
Senator Yusuf Yusuf had five votes, while David Kente, Saleh Mamman, Danladi Kifasi, Anthony Manzo, all had zero votes out of the 791 votes cast.
Speaking shortly after, General Tukur Buratai (Rtd) described the process as credible, open, free and fair; noting that the absence of other aspirants from the exercise does not invalidate the process as they are entitled to participate or not to participate.
Responding to his victory, the Taraba South Senator hinted that other aspirants boycotted the primaries due to fear of losing out.
“Most of the aspirants are working with the state government to see that I don’t emerge or APC fails to appear on the ballot, I have that information, they wanted a fresh primary but ran away from participating,” Bwacha stated.
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