Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket ahead of Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Rotimi Amaechi, Ahmad Lawan and a host of others.
He scored 1,271 votes to clinch the ticket.
Tinubu, also the National Leader of the party, defeated 13 other aspirants to emerge the flag bearer at the end of the Special National Convention of the party on Wednesday in Abuja.
The other aspirants included Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, Mr Tein Jack-Rich and Gov. Ben Ayade.
Others were Gov. David Umahi, Sen. Ahmad Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawal, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Gov. Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.
The race began with 23 aspirants, but nine withdrew shortly before the commencement of voting at the convention.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu- 1, 271 votes.
Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuba one vote.
Pastor Tunde Bakare- zero vote.
Sen. Ahmad Yarima – four votes.
Sen. Rochas Okorocha – zero vote.
Mr Tein Jack Rich – zero vote.
Gov. Ben Ayade – 37 votes.
Gov. David Umuahi – 38 votes.
Dr Ahmad Lawal – 152 votes.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo- 235 votes.
Mr Rotimi Amaechi- 316 votes.
Gov. Yahaya Bello – 47 votes.
Mr Ogbonnaya Onu – one vote.
Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu- zero vote.
Earlier, Osibanjo stormed out of the Eagle Square venue of the party’s presidential primary when it become apparent that Tinubu would clinch the party’s ticket.
Tinubu early on Wednesday, while the votes were still being tallied, established a wide lead over other aspirants to eventually emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
Already, Osinbajo’s campaign spokesperson, Richard Akinnola, has congratulated Tinubu for his imminent win
Akinnola congratulated Tinubu in a post on his Facebook page writing: “In any contest, there must be a winner. However, I’m very proud of my choice of support in the person of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“I have no iota of regret over my support for him. It was a privilege to play a pivotal role for him during the process. I would gladly do it over and over again. It’s a matter of conviction.
“And for all our supporters and other volunteers who worked assiduously, day and night on the PYO project, God bless you all. I’m so proud of all of you.
“As l often say, God rules in the affairs of men and He has a purpose for what just happened. Understandably, many of you are dispirited and downcast but do not let your heart be troubled. There must be a reason God allowed this. It may not be manifest to us now but later as He is all-knowing.
“I’m unfazed, unbowed and proud of PYO. Our supporters, abeg, make una shake it off. No be say person die, Life goes on. No yawa.”
There’s been bad blood between the vice president’s camp and Tinubu’s camp, following the former’s decision to join the presidential race, which Tinubu apparently considers an affront.
Tinubu first brought Osinbajo to the limelight by appointing him as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Lagos.
Tinubu also nominated him as the Vice President to President Muhammadu Buhari following the victory of APC in 2015.
Indeed, Osinbajo was booed as a betrayer for contesting against his former boss and benefactor on arrival at the Eagle Square on Tuesday evening.
Things got worse for Osinbajo when his former boss was endorsed by two former governors, Godswill Akpabio and Ibikunle Amosun, a sitting governors, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, a former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole and the only female aspirant, Uju Ohaneye joining the bandwagon.