Senator Sunday Marshall Katung has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Kaduna South Senatorial District primary election, defeating former Senator Danjuma Tella Laah and Michael Auta in a keenly contested exercise held across the eight local government areas of the district.
The returning officer for the election, Prof. John Laah of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, announced the results at the collation centre at the Jema’a Local Government Secretariat on Monday, declaring the exercise free, fair and peaceful.
According to him, the election was conducted across Kagarko, Sanga, Kauru, Zangon Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a, Jaba and Kachia local government areas, with delegates casting their votes for the three aspirants.
Katung polled 7,453 votes, while Laah scored 1,370 votes and Michael Ayuba Auta came third with 878 votes.
Prof. Laah, while announcing the final figures, commended party stakeholders, security agencies and delegates for ensuring a peaceful and orderly process across the senatorial district.
With the result, Senator Katung has secured the APC ticket to represent Kaduna South Senatorial District in the forthcoming general election.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the announcement of results, the Executive Chairman of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Joseph Bege Gaiya, described the outcome as a true reflection of the wishes of the grassroots.
He said the conduct of the exercise and the eventual outcome demonstrated the strength of internal democracy within the party, stressing that the process had further reinforced public confidence in the political direction of the APC in the area.
Also, another returning officer, Samira Jibrin, announced the results of the Kaduna Central Senatorial election, with Shehu Sani scoring 9,105 votes to emerge winner.
Other contestants, Yusuf Zailani, scored 1,021 votes, while Shettima Yerima, who withdrew from the race, scored 1,253 votes.
Addressing journalists at his Kaduna home, Shehu Sani thanked President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani for their support.
“There is no better representation of the people of Kaduna State than me being their lawmaker and Uba Sani being the governor,” he said.
He also thanked his constituents for giving him the chance to represent them for a second time.
“I also thank Yerima Shettima for stepping down from the race. And those who did not step down, we should join hands to move the party forward,” he added.
He noted that many things were confronting the nation, including poverty and unemployment.