By Stephen Adeleye

Alhaji Musa Mubarak has emerged winner of Sunday’s governorship primary election of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kogi.

Mubarak, popularly known as “Emperor’’ scored 607 votes to defeat his closet rival, Pastor Felix Oni, who scored 44 votes, while the second runner-up, Alhaji Hassan Bawa scored three votes.

Three other aspirants, Sen Adbulrahman Abubakar, Alhaji Aliyu Ali and Mr Kamaldeen Yakubu, stepped down from the race and supported Mubarak.

The election was witnessed by INEC officials.

Committee Chairman of Kogi NNPP Primary governorship election, Henry Francis, declaring the election result on Sunday in Lokoja

The primary election committee chairman, Comrade Henry Francis, who announced the results, said 717 delegates from the 21 local government areas of Kogi were accredited to vote in consonance with the party’s Constitution

The party’s chairman in Kogi, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar, congratulated Mubarak and the entire NNPP family for the successful and hitch-free primary election, describing it as “a day of history’’.

He described Mubarak as a humane philanthropist that would turn around the fortunes of Kogi for the betterment of the people.

“As from today, we shall expect a new dawn of political activities in Kogi.

“’This is the only governorship primary election that was free, fair, transparent and credible. Today is a new beginning for the people of Kogi both at home and in the diaspora,’’ Abubakar said.

In his acceptance speech, Mubarak commended other aspirants for their sportsmanship, and promised to make the state proud.

“I have emerged as the governorship flag bearer of the NNPP in Kogi and by the grace of God, I am going to emerge as the governor,’’ Mubarak said.