*Nigeria: PDP Presidential Primaries Live Report

By Masterweb News Desk

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People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s ruling party holds its presidential primaries today,
Thursday, January 13, 2011. The contest pits incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan against
strongest challenger - former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a third candidate, Sarah Jubril.

24 hours to the PDP presidential primary, an Enugu High Court restrained PDP National Chairman,
Dr. Okwesiwele Nwodo, from performing his official functions until the determination of the
motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

Yesterday, ahead of today’s PDP presidential primaries, there was fresh bomb scare in the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, which put security agencies on red-alert.Officers of the Special
Anti-terrorism Unit since then, have been scanning and searching vehicles on major roads in Abuja.

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PDP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES LIVE REPORT

4:15 pm: Atiku arrives Eagle Square

5:30 pm: President Jonathan arrives Eagle Square, shakes hands with Sarah Jubril but ignores
Atiku

5:35 - 5.39 pm: Christian & Muslim opening prayers

5:40: Voting materials finally arrive. Security operatives on the watch trying to minimize
contact between delegates.

5:55 pm: Dr. Okwesiwele Nwodo, restrained from duties as PDP National Chairman by an Enugu High
Court arrives.

6.00 - 6:08 pm: Nwodo delivers a speech, ending with the party song “PDP we love you, there is
no other party like PDP".

6.11 - 6:20 pm: Abubakar Baraje, PDP National Secretary delivers a speech.

6:23 pm: Samuel Ortom, PDP National Auditor speaks on the state of party finances.

6:48 pm: Sarah Jubril, top on the list to address delegates takes the stage. She appeals to
women, men of goodwill and the downtrodden to support her candidacy,promising to fight corruption
if elected president. Jubril end her address with the song “We shall Overcome".

7:00 pm: Atiku Abubakar takes the stage for his address to delegates. He spoke in part:
“How you vote will determine whether PDP wins the election", throwing verbal jabs directly on
Jonathan, accusing him of being distrustful, destroying the ladder from which he ascended office.
He spoke of the meeting in which zoning was agreed for the 2011 election, which Jonathan denies.
He said Jonathan has left the country in a worse state than he took over, urging delegates to
make “historic decision” by voting for him.

7:20 pm: Dr. Okweselize Nwodo delegates his duties to PDP Deputy National Chairman,
Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed through a letter. Security seems to lose watch on delegates as many
interact engaging in discussions.

7:25 pm: Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed declares convention open for the second time behind Nwodo.

7:35 pm: President Jonathan takes the stage amidst musical interlude not provided for the other
candidates. Jonathan shakes hands with Sarah Jubril and Atiku Abubakar and calls for a minute of
silence for Late President Yar’Adua. He avoids attacks on Atiku Abubakar focusing on what he
would do as president if given the mandate by PDP and Nigerians. In his words: “Within two years,
every state will have a federal tertiary institution of education. I will give this country
strong leadership to become developed.” Jonathan got a standing ovation from delegates at the
end of his address. He was the only candidate that got an applause at the end of his/her speech,
maybe an indication of how much he is favoured by the delegates.

8:00 pm: Voting commences using “open-secret” ballot system.

8:15 pm: Convention witnesses first casualty - an unidentified delegate from Akwa Ibom
collapses in voting queue.

8:35 pm: Compere announces the discovery of a bank card and an envelope full of money apparently
misplaced by one or two of the delegates. Owner to identify exact amount before claiming money.
Voting continues.

9:00 pm: Misplaced bank card and envelope full of money remain unclaimed. Compere adds new
condition - owner must also state colour of envelope as well as amount in it to make a claim.
Voting continues with fourth batch delegates from Plateau, Oyo and Osun states.

9:24 pm: Voting continues. A laptop computer reported missing. Convention peaceful so far.
Misplaced bank card and envelope full of money remain unclaimed.

10:05 pm: Voting completed. Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Chairman, Electoral Panel, PDP 2011 National
Convention invites representatives of aspirants, State Security agents to witness counting of
votes. Votes to be counted in full view of delegates.

10:20 pm: Counting of votes start.

10:25 pm: Vote counting begins with Abia State. Abia has 82 registered delegate voters. Most
votes so far cast for President Jonathan with none for Sarah Jubril and Atiku Abubakar.

10:40 pm: At the end of Abia State delegates vote count, President Jonathan wins Abia with 80
votes to his favour, one vote for Atiku Abubakar and none for Sarah Jubril. Atiku Abubakar’s
home state, Adamawa with 127 delegate votes is next for counting.
11:05 pm: President Jonathan wins Adamawa with 76 votes, with Atiku Abubakar trailing him with
31 votes and Sarah Jubril getting none. The grand tally is: President Jonathan 156,
Atiku Abubakar 32, Sarah Jubril 0. Akwa Ibom with 123 delegate votes is next for counting.

11:25 pm: President Jonathan wins all 141 votes in Akwa Ibom with both Atiku Abubakar and Sarah
Jubril getting none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 297, Atiku Abubakar 32,
Sarah Jubril 0. Anambra state is next for vote counting.

11:40 pm: President Jonathan wins Anambra with 47 votes with Atiku Abubakar trailing him with
8 votes and Sarah Jubril getting none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 344,
Atiku Abubakar 40, Sarah Jubril 0. Anambra state is next for vote counting.

11:49 pm: President Jonathan wins all 67 votes in his home state Bayelsa. The up-to-date grand
tally is: President Jonathan 411, Atiku Abubakar 40, Sarah Jubril 0. Bauchi State is next for
vote counting.

11:15 am: Better showing for Atiku Abubakar in Bauchi where he wins 44 votes, 2 votes behind
President Jonathan who got 46 votes. Sarah Jubril got no vote. The up-to-date grand tally is:
President Jonathan 457, Atiku Abubakar 84, Sarah Jubril 0. Rivers State is next for vote counting.

12:30 am: President Jonathan wins Rivers State with 128 votes, Atiku Abubakar winning only 2 vote
s and Sarah Jubril none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 585, Atiku Abubakar
86, Sarah Jubril 0.

12:50 am: Atiku Abubakar wins Sokoto State with 84 votes, with President Jonathan trailing with
32 votes and Sarah Jubril none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 617, Atiku
Abubakar 170, Sarah Jubril 0.

12:55 am: President Jonathan wins Taraba State with 62 votes, with Atiku Abubakar behind with
15 votes and Sarah Jubril none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 679, Atiku
Abubakar 185, Sarah Jubril 0.

1:05 am: President Jonathan wins Yobe with 29 votes, Atiku Abubakar trails him with 20 votes
and Sarah Jubril none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 708, Atiku Abubakar 205,
Sarah Jubril 0.

1:18 am: Atiku Abubakar wins Zamfara with 70 votes, with President Jonathan only getting 7 votes
and Sarah Jubril none. The up-to-date grand tally is: President Jonathan 715, Atiku Abubakar 275
, Sarah Jubril 0.