LIVE UPDATE: Bola Tinubu scores highest votes at APC presidential primary

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced its special convention to elect its presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.

The convention which is currently taking place at the Eagle Square in Abuja has a total of 2,322 ad-hoc delegates drawn from the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, expected to participate in the election.

Twenty-three 23 aspirants have been cleared by the seven-member screening committee of the party headed by the former national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, to participate in the poll.

Skabash.com is covering the live update of the election as the presidential aspirants address the delegates.

Below is the official result from the vote count.

Bola Tinubu – 1271 votes

Rotimi Amaechi – 316 vote

Yemi Osinbajo – 235 votes

Rochas Okorocha – 0 votes

Yahaya Bello – 47 votes

Jack Rech – 0 votes

Pastor Tunde Bakare – 0 votes

Ogbonnaya Onu – 1 vote

Ahmad Lawan – 152 votes

Ben Ayade – 37 votes

Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu – 0 votes

12.40 PM. Counting Of votes begins In APC presidential primary

Bola Tinubu leading

12.04. PM Results from sorted ballots show that Bola Tinubu is leading with 50% of votes cast. Tinubu currently leads with over 1149 votes.

He is trailed by former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. While Amaechi has obtained 238 votes, Osinbajo polled 177 so far.

8:08 AM. Sorting of votes begin.

7:40 AM. Voting has been concluded.

4:14 AM. Tired delegates take a nap at the venue of the APC presidential primary.

3:55 AM. Delegates from Kano queue up to vote in the primary.

Breakdown Of Delegates For Presidential Primary By States

Abia 50

Adamawa 63

Anambra 63

Bayelsa 24

Bauchi 55

Benue 64

Borno 81

Cross River 54

Delta 73

Enugu 51

Ekiti 48

Edo 54

Ebonyi 38

FCT 18

Gombe 33

Imo 81

Jigawa 81

Lagos 60

Plateau 51

Katsina 102

Kebbi 63

Kwara 48

Kogi 63

Kaduna 61

Kano 126

Nasarawa 39

Niger 75

Ondo 54

Ogun 60

Oyo 99

Osun 90

Rivers 69

Sokoto 69

Taraba 46

Yobe 51

Zamfara 42

TOTAL

2, 203

08.40 AM. Sorting of ballot boxes begin

01:40 AM. Voting commences.

01:30 AM. President Buhari leaves convention ground before delegates begin to cast their votes.

01: 05 AM. As the electoral committee prepares to commence the voting process, Bagudu says eight aspirants have stepped down their aspiration.

They include; Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Godswill Akpabio, Ibikunle Amosun, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Rt. Hon. Demeji Bankole, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Dr Nicholas Felix, Senator Ajayi Borrofice.

Aspirants in contention include; Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, Emeka Nwajuiba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Ahmad Lawan, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Engr. Dave Umahi, Prof. Ben Ayade, Ogbonnaya Onu, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, Jack Rech and Ahmad Rufai Sanni.

12: 55 AM. Chairman of the Election Committee of the Convention and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu steps up the podium to provide election guidelines

12: 50 AM. Buhari urges the APC to choose a nationalist and not allow the opposition, PDP, to grab power.

12: 42 AM. President Buhari addresses the convention

12:39 AM. President Muhammadu Buhari is invited to the podium

12.29 AM. Conclusion of speeches by aspirants. 22 aspirants addressed the delegates. Former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba is the only aspirant who was not present to address the delegates.

12:.15 AM. You cannot wish this country well and vote for someone you do not believe in. When you vote tonight, know that your votes carry the answers to our prayers for this country – Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

12:12 AM. Prof Osinbajo urges the delegates to vote right.

12: 08 AM. Yemi begins on a solemn note by joining other aspirants to commiserate with families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in Owo.

12:05 AM. Rowdy session at the venue of the convention delays Osinbajo’s address

12: 01 PM. Vice president Yemi Osinbajo is invited to address delegates

11.59 PM. Barr. Uju steps down for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

11.58 PM.  The only female aspirant in the race, Barrister Uju Kennedy Ohanenye gets her turn.

11:54 PM. Chief Mokelu promises to sustain the integrity status of President Buhari if elected as APC flag bearer.

11: 46 PM. Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu is called up to address the delegates.

11:42 PM. I am confident that after a clean electoral process today, I will become the flag bearer who will go ahead to defeat Atiku Abubakar – Governor Bello.

11:36 PM. Yahaya Bello joins a list of aspirants to call for a moment of silence for victims of terrorist attacks across the country.

11:30 PM. Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello takes his turn on the podium to woo party delegates.

11:27 PM. I am here to ask you to vote for me and I will improve Nigeria’s economy – John Rech

11:24 PM. Another APC presidential aspirant, John Rech steps up to address the delegates

11:21 PM. I have decided to step down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo – Felix

11:17 PM. Dr Nicholas Felix addresses the delegates, says he is the youngest aspirant at 40 years old

11:14 PM. Okorocha admonishes the delegates to vote their conscience

11:11 PM. Senator Rochas Okorocha addresses delegates, says he is qualified to govern Nigeria.

10: 58PM. The minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi addresses the delegates. Amaechi says he is the most experienced aspirant.

10: 57PM. Pastore Tunde urges delegates to vote for him.

10: 52PM.  I am not here to step down for anyone – Tunde Bakare.

10:50 PM. Pastore Tunde Bakare addresses delegates.

10:36 PM. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole has withdrawn from the APC presidential primary to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

10:34 PM Governor Fayemi of Ekiti state steps down for Bola Tinubu

10:16 PM. Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio has stepped down from the Bola Ahmed Tinubu.