The Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, on Friday, was elected the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Mr Namadi scored 1220 votes to defeat eight other aspirants.
The head of the election committee, Kabir Ibrahim, congratulated the winner, and party delegates on a successful primary.
Mr Namadi’s main challenger, Sabo Nakudu, the serving senator for Jigawa south-west, scored 106 votes.
Also, a serving senator for Jigawa North-east, Ibrahim Hassan, got 58 votes.
A former lawmaker Farouk Aliyu scored 13 votes while Aminu Kani, a businessman, scored 16 votes.
A former Jigawa attorney general, and commissioner for justice, Sani Garin-Gabas, scored 5 votes.
Three other aspirants who did not score a vote in the election were Abba Muktar; Ahmad Mahmoud, a former deputy governor; Ahmad Zakari, an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on infrastructure.
In the election, the total votes cast stood at 1, 430; valid votes 1428 while two votes were rendered invalid.
Meanwhile, in his victory speech, Mr Namadi described the election as a historic event for the ruling APC and Jigawa State.
He said: “I am elected not because I am the best-qualified aspirant but because Allah has destined it to happen that I will be elected as the candidate in the 2023 general election.
“I am grateful to God Almighty, I pray to also emerge victorious in the general election by the grace of God.
“I am thankful to my principal, Governor Muhammad Badaru for giving me the opportunity to serve under him which made my election possible. I will always be guided by his tutelage and build on the purposeful leadership he laid the state on.
“For my co-contestants, I cherish the spirit of brotherhood and mutual respect accorded to each other during the contest. I appeal to all the contestants to join hand together and move the state forward in ensuring that the party succeed in the general election, the deputy governor said.
Mr Namadi, a professional accountant, served as Jigawa Commissioner for Finance between 2015 and 2019 before he was subsequently elected deputy governor in 2019.
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