Kola, the first child of late Chief M.K.O Abiola, has emerged as the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Late Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled presidential election.

However, his son, Kola, won against Usman Bugaje, Patience Key, Retd. Col. Gboluga Mosugu to pick the PRP presidential ticket.

While Abiola got 2,097 votes from across the 36 States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bugaje came second with 813 votes, while Key and Mosugu got 329 and 263 votes to emerge third and fourth, respectively.

The primary election was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking before the collation of the results, PRP National Chairman, Mr Falalu Bello, said the delegates from the 36 states and the FCT voted for the aspirants from their respective states.

This, he said was with the permission from INEC to save cost.

READ ALSO: 2023: Abiola’s eldest son, Kola, joins PRP

Bello said: “We want to make the whole process nearer to the delegates. The delegates are in the states. So that is why we decided that the primary election  will take place in the 36 states and the FCT.

“Definitely, having it in the states, rather than bringing them here, is more convenient for them.

“We set up 37 committees headed by the nominees from the national executive committee in the states along with the state organising secretaries to conduct this exercise in the states.”

The PRP chairman added that the aspirants had promised to support whoever emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.

Bello noted that the party decided not to zone its presidential ticket to any of the six geo-political zones across the country but to look for a candidate who was capable, competent and enjoyed wide acceptability across the country.

The Star