Nigerian singer turned politician, Bankole Wellington, popularly called Banky W, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries ticket to represent the party as the House of Representatives candidate in the upcoming 2023 elections.
Banky W is contesting for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat and had earlier said he would patiently wait for the PDP primary election. The keenly contested primaries began at 5 p.m. on Monday.
In a viral video, the votes of the primaries were counted and closely monitored by the delegates and members of the party. According to reports, the music star won twenty-eight votes while his closest opponent scored three votes.
A total of 140 aspirants contest on PDP tickets for the 40 seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly, while 85 candidates are vying for the state’s 24 House of Representatives seats, some reports indicated.
Prior to the elections, Banky W was the subject of internet jokes following rumors that he had lost his primary election. However, those rumors were debunked as it was clarified that the elections had not taken place, according to reports.
It can be recalled that Banky W first announced his decision to run for the House of Representatives back in November 2018. In the 2019 elections, he contested the House of Representatives seat under the Modern Democratic Party (MDP) but unfortunately lost to Ibrahim Obanikoro of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The music star after his loss later announced that he would be running for the House of Reps seat again in April 2022.
“We must engage with Nigeria where it is, not where we prefer it to be. In 2019, we planted the seed. In 2023, by the grace of God and with your support, we will win the seat. The time for just talking is over. It is time to #TalkAndDo. I hope I can count on you. We move,” Banky W tweeted at that time.
Delay in Elections
The primary elections was marred with a delay and it got several people wondering if the elections would hold. However, Banky W who was full of hope said he would patiently wait for the outcome of the PDP’s primary elections.
Banky W gave the assurance while reacting to a delay in the commencement of the primary election. He noted that he believed that the delay was to enable the party get everything right.
“I think that is the reason for the delay; if it takes some more time, there is no problem. We will be here as long as it takes, and we shall stay here till the process is completed,” Banky W said.
According to reports, Mr. Wellington also urged contestants for PDP tickets to accept the delegates’ will. He expressed optimism that the election would hold peacefully and orderly.
“We will all align with whoever has the ticket. You need two things to win: the grace of God and the will of the people. I am very optimistic that I have both, and at the end of the day, that will be clear for everyone to see, and we can move forward together”.
Banky W
Egunjobi Segun, who was contesting for Eti-Osa 1 Constituency, in Lagos State House of Assembly, told NAN that the delay was unfortunate. He expressed the hope of winning the election but said that the people’s will would prevail.
Ademola Oyede, also contesting for Eti-Osa Constituency 1, told local media that logistics involved in mobilizing electoral officers and others contributed to the delay in starting the primary election.
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