A former member of the House of Representatives, Isa Ashiru, on Monday emerged winner of the People’s Democratic Party governorship primary in Kaduna State.

In a keenly contested primary election, Ashiru polled 1,330 votes out of a total of 2,654 delegates to emerge winner at the primary held at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex along Kaduna-Zaria expressway.

He defeated the lawmaker representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, who polled 564 votes and a former Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Sani Sidi, who got 560 votes.

Ashiru, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates for voting for him, promising not to betray the confidence they have in him.

Meanwhile, the former House of Representatives member would slug it out with incumbent Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who emerged the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

Unlike in 2015 where it was a keenly contested primary, the governor emerged through affirmation.

In 2015, el-Rufai polled 1,965 votes against the 1,379 votes polled by his closest rival, Isa Ashiru, then a serving member of the House of Representatives, who polled 1,379 votes.

The chairman of the APC electoral committee in the state, Mr. Mathew Idoriyekemwem, announced that el-Rufai polled 2,427 votes. – Punch

– Oct. 1, 2018 @ 18:25 GMT |