Former Head of State, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday beat four other contenders to win the All Progressives Congress presidential primary at the party's national convention in Lagos.
Buhari polled 3,430 votes to beat Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who came 2nd with 974 votes, while former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, got 954 votes to occupy the 3rd position.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, came 4th with 624 votes, while the Publisher, Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, scored 10 votes as 16 voided votes were recorded.
In his acceptance speech, Buhari commended the convention planning committee for the success of the convention.
He said "the outcome of the presidential primaries is a demonstration of democracy at work. What has happened is not about winning or losing but about freedom of association. I wish to thank my contenders for putting up a good fight. I extend my gratitude for accepting my nomination and I will meet you in due course to fashion out how we will win the elections. It is with deep sense of humility to be the candidate and flag-bearer of the APC. I stand before you and ask that you join me to bring about the needed change for this country. It is either we advance as one or we fail together."
Meanwhile, Atiku has congratulated Buhari for emerging victorious in the keenly contested presidential primary election of APC, saying "this party is going to renew our democracy in this country. This is the most credible and transparent election to be ever conducted by any political party."
On his part, Kwankwaso promised to work for the success of the party and Buhari's success at the polls.
Also speaking, Okorocha said "the responsibility falls on the shoulder of General Buhari. I believe it is God and it came to him because he is the oldest of the family and I believe the next one will go to the youngest of the family. There wouldn't have been this competition if all of us have not contested. We have now taught the world that internal democracy can begin in a party."
Explaining why he participated in the race, he said "I participated in the race because I wanted to give our brothers from the South East a sense of belonging."
Buhari will face President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party in the presidential election in February, 2015.
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