By Abdallah el-Kurebe
Sokoto state delegates have formally elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Peoples Congress (APC) for the 2015 polls.
The primary election took place inside the Sokoto Stadium, in Sokoto.
Tambuwal polled 3,466 to beat four other aspirants, including Senator Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal who scored 23 votes; Muhammad Yusha’u Ahmed, 13 votes; Barrister Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, 0 votes and Prof. Mohammad Lawal Bashar, 0 votes each to emerge the party’s candidate.
Supervised by the Chairman of the National Electoral Committee of the party to the state, Mr. Bolaji Khalil, the total accredited delegates were 3,569 while the total votes cast was 3,513.
Of the total votes cast, valid votes was 3,503 while 10 invalid votes were recorded.
Speaking shortly after he was declared winner, Tambuwal said: “I am indeed delighted for being proclaimed the winner as the gubernatorial candidate of our great party, the APC. I am also happy for the orderly manner that the election went.
“I am assuring you that the mandate given to me shall be carried out diligently and if we finally win the election, we shall pay attention to the area of agriculture, education, etc.”
Waziri Tambuwal, who was the last entrant to the fight for the coveted seat in the state, was said to be favoured by Governor Aliyu Wamakko. The governor was also alleged to have prevailed on his hitherto perceived favourite, Faruk Malami Yabo to step aside for the Speaker.
