Vote Counting Begins As Tinubu In Early Lead

The sorting and counting of votes by national delegates has commenced at the presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress.

…The ballot casting exercise to determine the fate of aspirants, which was carried out by 2,340 delegates, started at about 2.40 am and at 7.45 am.

The six-hour voting process ended with a few delegates still hanging around in a near-empty field of Eagle Square.

However, feelers from the convention ground in Abuja indicated that the battle for the sole presidential ticket is still down to former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

At the time of filing this report, Bola Tinubu in early lead ahead of others after some ballot boxes were counted.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu 577
Ahmed Lawal 28
Yemi Osibanjo 77
Rotimi Amaechi 113
Yahaya Bello 16
Dave Umahi 4
Ben Ayade 5
Void Votes 3

The winner is expected to be declared in a few hours.

Fourteen aspirants are still in the race.

They include Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Gov. Ben Ayade, Gov. David Umuahi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Sen. Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawal, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Gov. Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.

Nine aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the race including Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye, Dr Felix Nicholas, former Gov. Godswill Akpabio, former Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, Gov. Muhammad Badaru, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Gov. Kayode Fayemi