2023 Polls: Sen Aishatu Beats Ribadu, Ex-Gov Bindow To Win APC Adamawa Guber Ticket
- Makes history as first female guber candidate In Adamawa
BY AUSTIN AJAYI, YOLA – Senator Ashatu Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made history as the first female governorship candidate of any political party in Adamawa State.
In a keenly contested gubernatorial primaries, Binani, who is the serving Senator representing Adamawa Central, clinched the State opposition party’s ticket by the ticket by defeating five male contestants.
With a total of 430 votes, the lawmaker swept past former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, who scored 288, and former Governor Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, who amassed 103 votes.
Others aspirants on the score sheet were a serving House of Representatives member, Hon Abdulrazak Namdas with 94 votes, Wafari Therman – 21 votes and Umar Mustphar who scored 39.
Announcing the results of the Primaries that lasted till the early hours of Friday, May 27, 2022, Chairman of the Primaries Committee, Alhaji Gambo Lawal said a total number of 1130 delegates were accredited with a total of 1011 votes cast, while the invalid votes were 36
Declaring the winner, Alhaji Lawal said; “Of the total number of valid votes cast, Senator Ashatu Binani scored 430. And having scored the highest number of votes cast, she is hereby returned has the winner of the primary election.”
The governorship primary, which took place at the Lamido Cinema in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, began at about 5:00 pm on Thursday with the accreditation of delegates. However, voting commenced at midnight and lasted till Friday morning before sorting and counting began.
The victory makes Senator Binani the second female governorship candidate of a major political party in the country. The feat was first achieved by the late former Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, who was APC gubernatorial flag bearer in Taraba State in 2015.
After losing to Governor Darius Ishaku, she challenged the victory up to the Supreme Court that eventually sealed her fate.
As a major upset and a plus for the womenfolks in the country, Binani will be aiming to become the first elected female governor in Nigeria’s political history.
In her post-election speech, the 50-year-old lawmaker praised the Committee for the successful conduct of the primary and promised to work with those who contested with her.
Some of the agents equally lauded the election committee for the peaceful conduct of the exercise. The other contestants also accepted the result and pledged to work together to ensure the APC wins the governorship poll next year.
Minutes after the results were declared, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the APC Leader in Adamawa State, Boss Mustapha, arrived at the venue to applaud the Party for conducting a free, fair, and transparent primary.
A breakdown of the result below:
Binani Aisha – 430
Nuhu Ribadu – 288
Bindow – 103.
Wafari – 21
Namdas – 94
Otumba – 39
Number of accredited voters – 1009
Number of valid votes cast – 975
Number of invalid votes – 31
