How states will vote
Borno, Yobe will go for Buhari There are clear indications that delegates from Borno and Yobe States will prefer General Muhammadu Buhari. Governors of the two states are members of the APC and they have at various fora, identified themselves with Buhari. Some of the delegates told our correspondents that both Borno and Yobe owe […]
Borno, Yobe will go for Buhari
There are clear indications that delegates from Borno and Yobe States will prefer General Muhammadu Buhari. Governors of the two states are members of the APC and they have at various fora, identified themselves with Buhari. Some of the delegates told our correspondents that both Borno and Yobe owe Buhari a lot, pointing out that this is the payback time. The electorate in Maiduguri equally have sympathy for Buhari as evident in the votes he garnered in the 2011 and 2007 elections. Deputy Governor of Borno State, Zanna Umar Mustapha at a recent function clearly named Buhari as their candidate.
From 1999 till date, Yobe has remained a stronghold of opposition parties like the then All People’s Party (APP) before its transformation to the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) and now, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Since then, General Muhammadu Buhari has remained the favourite of the governors. But recently, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam who consistently supported Buhari`s presidential ambition seemed to be in alliance with the Kano State governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who is also contesting the presidential primary.
Gombe will vote for Buhari
The just concluded gubernatorial primaries in Gombe has clearly shown which aspirant the state will support. Senator Danjuma Goje who some political analysts in the state said has tilted support to Buhari had his candidate clinching the gubernatorial election, defeating former deputy speaker Usman Bayero Nafada. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya who was commissioner for finance under Goje for eight years won the primary because Goje supported him massively. When Atiku Abubakar visited Gombe to meet with delegates from the state, Goje was in town but he refused to see Atiku and that clearly shows that he does not belong to Atiku’s camp. Delegates from the state may vote for General Buhari at the presidential primaries.
Bauchi difficult to predict
It will be difficult to know who the Bauchi State delegates will vote for. Many politicians and APC stake holders believe that Atiku may likely get the Bauchi votes because of many factors, including the fact that Atiku is from the North East.
Many also argue that since the beginning of the struggle for the presidential ticket, it was only Atiku who visited the state three times and held a series of meetings with delegates.
North West
Kano will back Kwankwaso
In Kano, the defeat of retired Brigadier General Lawal Jafaru Isa, the preferred candidate of General Muhammadu Buhari in the just concluded governorship primaries of the APC in the state showed the direction where the delegates of the state will vote at today’s convention.
The deputy governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the anointed candidate of Kwankwaso, recorded a clear victory in the primary when he polled 5,588 votes and Jafaru Isa got only 126 votes. If the delegates vote in this direction, Kwankwaso may have almost all the votes of the state’s delegates today. Our correspondent reports that more than 90 percent of the delegates are members of Kwankwasiyya, the political movement of Kwankwaso.
Buhari favourite in Kaduna
The results of the recent APC governorship primary election in Kaduna State clearly indicate that the state is a stronghold of the General Muhammadu Buhari. Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i who was backed by the General defeated Isa Ashiru who was said to have been sponsored by two other presidential candidates, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. The results showed that Kaduna delegates are likely to vote for Buhari.
Katsina solidly behind Buhari
For the 204 APC delegates from Katsina, Buhari has since been endorsed by the party as its sole candidate. A special congress was held by the state chapter of the party where it resolved to solidly stay behind the general during the primaries. According to the state chairman Mustapha Inuwa, it’s Buhari all the way.
Opinion differs in Zamfara
There is divided opinion among political heavy weights in Zamfara State on who to support among the APC aspirants. Sources close to the government told our reporter in Gusau that while the political leader in the state, Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima and his supporters may be behind General Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abdulaziz Yari and his followers may endorse former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
But the source said if the delegates in the states would be allowed to vote for candidates of their choice, they would not vote for any of the aspirants other than Buhari.
Kebbi remains divided
Members of the APC in Kebbi State are divided over the presidential aspirants. A faction led by an elder of the party had during Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s visit, appealed to Atiku and Gen Buhari to step aside and support Kwankwaso. The governorship candidate, Atiku Bagudu and some defeated aspirants were said to have thrown their weight behind Buhari. Some other aspirants and party officials were said to be behind Atiku because of some financial support they enjoy. The fate of Nda Isaih and Okorocha is not clear as not much is known about them in the state.
Sokoto set for Buhari
Unless there is a sudden change of decision, delegates from Sokoto State have already resolved to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari at today’s convention. Their decision was revealed by the chairman, APC Chairmen’s Forum in the state, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangwaggo, during their recent meeting with Buhari.
According to Dangwaggo, Buhari is the favourite of their political leader, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and they will not go contrary to his decision. This decision was reaffirmed by one of the elders of the state and former governorship candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi who said the country needs the likes of Buhari to come out from its present woes.
Jigawa will go for Buhari
Political analysts believe that delegates from Jigawa will fully stay behind Buhari because all the stakeholders of the APC in the state have promised to do so. They hold preference for Buhari because they believe that he is the only one capable of confronting the insecurity challenges facing the country.
When Buhari came on a short visit to Jigawa two weeks ago, all the party state executive members and the governorship aspirants were at the airport to receive him while it was not the case when Atiku Abubakar visited. Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rochas Okorocha on the other hand never visited Jigawa to campaign for votes.
North Central
Atiku likely to get Plateau
Three things will work for Alhaji Abubakar Atiku when Plateau State delegates begin casting their votes. He is considered a Jos person because he has a house in highbrow Rayfield on a street unofficially called Atiku Street, purely because of the twin-structure home, and it was renovated just weeks before he paid a visit to Jos penultimate week to canvass votes from Plateau State delegates.
Secondly, he has a political ally Jos-based Ambassador Yahaya Kwande with whom Atiku has had a close political relationship dating back 27 years, according to Kwande himself who is a pillar of support for Atiku and who is expected to deploy his influence within the APC in Plateau State which views him as the leader. Atiku’s financial wealth will also come in handy.
Buhari favoured in Niger
There are indications that Niger delegates will vote for General Buhari . This became glaring during the recent governorship primary as the delegates were chanting that Niger State is for Abubakar Sani Bello, the governorship candidate of the party while Nigeria is for Buhari. The fact that the state has Sam Nda-Isaiah, an indigene in the presidential race does not affect the popularity of Buhari in Niger. The state APC governorship candidate has left his supporters in the dark as he has not taken side with any of the aspirants.
To some pundits, the party’s guber candidate does not even need to make any declaration on whose camp he belongs, being a son of a retired military brass. They believe it is therefore natural for him to support Buhari.
Buhari stands a better chance in Kwara
In Kwara State, it is not very clear which direction the state is likely to go as leaders of the party have refrained from endorsing any of the aspirants.
All the aspirants who visited the state were warmly received by the APC leaders as they received the support and assurance of the party’s leaders in the forthcoming primary. However, former Governor Bukola Sarak
holds the ace on the direction the state would go. He’s the leader of APC and his decision definitely goes a long way in predicting the aspirants that would receive the votes of the state. Be that as it may, General Mohammadu Buhari stands a better chance in Kwara State. This is because quiet a number of delegates in the state are staunch Buhari supporters.
South-South
Edo delegates will vote for Buhari
There is every indication that Edo delegates will vote for General Muhammadu Buhari. This is because Buhari has become the most popular politician among political analysts in the state, especially those from the APC family. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole is the leader of the APC in the state and if his body language is anything to go by, his support will more likely tilt to Buhari. Only last week Oshiomhole invited Buhari to commission some state owned projects where he tried to mobilise support for Buhari.
Rivers will go to Buhari
Feelers from Port Harcourt suggest that Rivers State APC delegates led by Governor Chibuike Amaechi will vote for Gen Muhammed Buhari. A chieftain of the APC from Rivers State told our reporter in Port Harcourt last night that Amaechi and all APC delegates from the state will vote for Buhari. Amaechi’s love and support for Buhari is not a hidden secret. He believes that Buhari is a very disciplined man with an impeccable character that should be entrusted with the leadership of Nigeria.