10th January, 2011
Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai has won the People’s Democratic Party, PDP governorship primaries to contest for a second term.
Suntai in a primary which ran into the early hours of Monday defeated three other aspirants, Alhaji Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Ibrahim and Alhaji Jubril Bello to emerge the PDP flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The governor scored 609 votes out of a total of 693 votes cast while Alhaji Tumba, former Executive Director, Finance, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA came second with 44 votes, Alhaji Abdul Azeez, a two time governorship aspirant polled 25 votes while Alhaji Bello, a former council chairman secured one vote.
Declaring the results, in the early hours of Monday, the chairman of the Electoral panel, Architect Joseph Ikyagba announced Suntai as winner, having scored the simple majority votes of 609.
Ikyagba thanked the aspirants and the delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner throughout the period of the primary, adding that the election was free and fair.
Reacting shortly after the declaration, Gov. Suntai promised to carry all the aspirants along, pointing out that PDP in Taraba is one family.
In the same manner, all the aspirants congratulated the winner and pledged to work for the success of the party in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Alhaji Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim, the second runner-up said the election was devoid of malpractices. He promised that all the aspirants would team up to ensure that the party wins all the elective positions in the state.
— Ben Adaji/Jalingo
