After a night of serious horse trading and fiery speeches, voting in the Special Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to elect the party’s flag-bearer in next year’s presidential poll got underway at exactly 1.30 a.m. local time at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Nine aspirants had earlier stood down from the race, leaving fourteen on the ballot. Among those who stepped down for Tinubu were: Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Senator Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, and the only female aspirant, Uju Ken-Ohanenye. Three aspirants, including youthful Nicholas Felix, stepped down for Prof. Osinbajo.
Those on the ballot include: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Dr. Gbolahan Tunde Bakare, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Ebonyi State Gov. Dave Umahi, Cross Rivers State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, former Minister of Information under General Sani Abacha, Mr. Ikeobasi Mokelu, former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Sani Yerima, as well as Mr. Jack Rich, among others.
A total of 2,322 delegates are casting their votes in the exercise which may span all night.
President Muhammadu Buhari and First Lady Aisha Buhari left the arena two minutes after voting started.
