By Our Correspondent
Former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections.
He scored 1,271 votes to clinch the ticket.
Tinubu, who is 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 held on Wednesday in Abuja.
Former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi came second while Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo came third in the hotly contested race.
The other aspirants included Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, Mr Tein Jack-Rich and Gov. Ben Ayade.
Others were Gov. David Umuahi, Sen. Ahmad Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawal, 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.
They included Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye, Dr Felix Nicholas, former Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, former Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
Below are the aspirants as they stood in the contest:
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu – 1, 271 votes
Mr Rotimi Amaechi – 316
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo – 235
Dr Ahmad Lawal – 152
Gov. Yahaya Bello – 47
Gov. David Umuahi – 38
Gov. Ben Ayade – 37
Sen. Ahmad Yarima – 4
Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuba – 1
Mr Ogbonnaya Onu – 1
Pastor Tunde Bakare – 0
Sen. Rochas Okorocha – 0
Mr Tein Jack Rich – 0
Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu – 0
Thirteen votes were counted as null and void.