See live updates of PDP's presidential primaries in Rivers

The aspirants contesting to run with PDP's presidential ticket in the 2019 election, are: Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo; and former governors including Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Others are former Senate President, David Mark, former Senator, Baba Datti Ahmed, and former Minister Special Duties Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki.

_______________

Thank you for being with us, as Pulse brought you the live reports of the PDP presidential primaries.

1:28 pm: Recitation of National Anthem.

............

1:27 pm: Christian closing prayers.

............

1:26 pm: Muslim closing prayers.

............

1:25 pm: PDP chairman, Uche Secondus officially declares the 2018 PDP convention closed.

............

1:24 pm: Senator Abiodun Olujimi adjourns the 2018 PDP convention.

Senator Ben Obi seconds the motion.

............

1:17 pm: PDP chairman, Uche Secondus in his speech, issued a warning to APC saying that Nigerians are ready to take back the country.

Secondus also called on INEC to learn from PDP's conduct during the presidential primary.

............

1:13 pm: PDP chairman calls on Senate President Bukola Saraki to make the closing remarks.

............

12:58 pm: Atiku Abubakar gives his acceptance speech, says there has never been a primary election as fair as this in the history of PDP.

Atiku also commends all the presidential aspirants and assures them that he is ready to work with them to win the 2019 elections.

The former Vie-President praised the convention committee, saying that they carried out the activities in a transparent manner.

Atiku thanked the government and people of Rivers state for a hitch free convention.

Nigerians have seen that the APC has nothing to offer. They are yearning for the PDP to return, so we cannot fail, Atiku added.

The former Vice-President also took a swipe at Buhari's administration, describing it as clueless.

Atiku then thanked former President Olusegun Obasanjo for giving him the opportunity to serve as his Vice-President.

............

12:57 pm: Uche Secondus invites Atiku Abubakar to give his acceptance speech.

............

12:56 pm: Gov Okowa presents result sheet of the PDP primary election to Uche Secondus.

............

12:49 pm: PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, PDP presidential aspirants, members of the PDP NWC, and Atiku Abubakar making their way to the podium.

............

12:48 pm: Okowa officially declares Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate for 2019.

............

12:44 pm: Okowa reads out the result of the PDP presidential primary.

............

12:18 pm: Atiku Abubakar wins the PDP presidential primary with 1,532 votes.

............

12:10pm:Atiku Abubakar's votes up to 1,300 and still counting.

Atiku Abubakar preparing to mount the stage for his acceptance speech as vote are being counted.

............

12:00 pm: Atiku Abubakar's votes up to 1,000.

............

11:59 am: Supporters of Atiku Abubakar jubilating as votes get to 945.

............

11:58 am: Atiku Abubakar beats Tambuwal, votes entering 900.

............

11:03 am: Chairman of the convention committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa invited to count the votes of the last 3 aspirants. They are:

Bukola Saraki: 317 votes

Aminu Tambuwal: 693 votes

............

10:39 am: Counting has begun.

Jonah Jang: 19 votes

Datti Ahmed: 5 votes

David Mark: 35 votes

Tanimu Turaki: 65 votes

Sule Lamido: 96 votes

Attahiru Bafarawa: 48 votes

Ibrahim Dankwambo: 111 votes

Ahmed Makarfi: 74 votes

Rabiu Kwankwaso: 158 votes

............

10:38 am: Void votes: 68

............

10:37 am: Counting of void votes has begun.

............

10:35 am: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa announces that counting of votes have commenced, starting with void votes.

............

10:34 am: Ben Murray Bruce says Atiku has won. It is important to state that counting of votes has just begun. The official results have not been announced.

............

10:33 am: Otunba Gbenga Daniel hints that Atiku might have won.

............

10:32 am: Supporters of ex-VP Atiku are already jubilating and chanting his name at the venue.

............

10:16 am: Counting is about to begin any moment from now.

............

10:06 am: Reports from the convention ground is that Atiku has overtaken Tambuwal. Votes are still being counted.

............

9:56 am: Kwankwaso, Atiku supporters reportedly clash at convention venue.

............

9:42 am: Breakdown of delegates who voted according to their states, obtained from The Cable

Abia 106

Adamawa 76

Akwa Ibom 153 but 151 voted

Anambra 54

Bauchi 76

Bayelsa 74

Benue 121

Borno 57

Cross Rivers 95

Delta 141

Edo 79

Ebonyi 101

Enugu 121

Ekiti 109 but 107 voted

Gombe 89

Kaduna 103

Kano 129 but 128 voted

Imo 117 but 104 voted

FCT 36 but 35 voted

Jigawa 84

Katsina 102 but 101 voted

Kebbi 68 but 65 voted

Kogi 94 but 93 voted

Kwara 102

Lagos 64

Nasarawa 62

Niger 83

Ondo 64

Osun 88

Ogun 21

Oyo 88 but 87 voted

Plateau 76 but only 74 voted

Rivers 131

Sokoto 95

Taraba 93

Yobe 59 but only 58 voted

Zamfara 48

Accredited delegates: 3,274

............

8:57 am: Un-confirmed reports on the ground say Abubakar Atiku and Aminu Tambuwal are leading.

............

8: 47am: We have small gist for you. Vote buying at this convention has been of international standard. Some delegates have told Pulse that they have made as much as $10,000 from the different aspirants at this convention. When one aspirant learnt that an opponent was giving out $3,000 per delegate, he increased his to $5,000.

It’s been a dollar rain for the delegates here. Some delegates say this is their only opportunity to eat from that proverbial "national cake".

............

8: 37am: With sorting still going on, Saraki's supporters are breaking into songs and dance here. They think their man will win.

The supporters have been singing, dancing and waving banners with solidarity messages all around the Adokiye Amasiemeka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

............

8:13 am: Delegates waiting eagerly for the announcement of results.

...............

8:10 am: Anybody who emerges as the PDP presidential candidate will face Buhari, who has just been elected APC's presidential flag-bearer in 2019.

...............

6:59 am: Tambuwal's agent has collected 80% of votes.

...............

6: 28: The 12 agents staring at 12 ballot boxes each, represent one presidential aspirant. Right now, there are being handed the microphone to say: "the process was very transparent and thorough".

...............

6:16am: Voting ends. Sorting to commence immediately. Some of the delegates can be seen sleep walking at the moment. There are 12 ballot boxes for agents to sort from. The agents are seated round a table were the ballot boxes are perched.

...............

3: 04: Voting is now underway

.............

2:41: The number of delegates per state are being called out now. A total of 3,274 delegates will participate in the process to choose the PDP presidential flagbearer. Abia State will vote first.

.........

1:59: The electoral panel for the primaries is cross checking the list of delegates and stuff.

............

1: 51: Just here staring at white ballot cubicles and boxes as voters prepare to cast ballots. Let's just say this is going to take a while. But why do political parties have this need to vote way past midnight? What's to be done here that couldn't have been done in the day with proper planning?

............

12:28pm: It's some long interlude here as delegates prepare to vote. And we are being treated to a medley of Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and pidgin music.

...........

12:01: Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is now reeling out the election rules and guidelines. No phones in the cubicle area, no one votes by proxy etc.

...........

11: 51: Former President Goodluck Jonathan is now on the podium. Jonathan says the PDP now has the senate president and speakership positions and more governors. Adds that this is an indication that the PDP is back and ready to unseat APC at the center.

11: 46: Ekweremadu is actually singing! And we have to say singing is really not his thing.

................

11: 39: Some observation here won't hurt. There's alway a crowd of supporters accompanying and hailing the aspirant who has just been called to the podium. Alright, the election proper is just about to begin. And we are having some music as well during the interlude. Did we mention that Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu is now speaking? Ok, now we have.

..................

11: 30: It's Tanimu Turaki's turn to speak. He is a former minister who ran for the office of Kebbi governor three times. He's the last aspirant to speak tonight.

....................

11: 22: Tambuwal mounts the podium. Tambuwal says he will unite the country and that he is one aspirant that can be trusted. Recall that each aspirant is given 3 minutes to make a case for himself. Tambuwal says if he doesn't get the ticket, he'll get behind the eventual winner.

....................

11: 20: David Mark and Saraki make their speeches. Saraki says a vote for him is a vote for the youth. Mark says in the event that he doesn't win, he'll support whoever wins.

Saraki says: "We must move away from the past. We cannot vote on sentiment. We must vote for somebody who is capable and someone with a proven track-record of performance.

"If you are looking for a courageous leader, who will lead from the front and unite this nation, I urge our delegates to vote for me in the hours ahead".

------------------

11:16 pm: Former PDP caretaker committee chairman, Ahmed Makarfi speaks, promises to address security challenges in the country.

11:00 pm: Former Jigawa state Gov, Sule Lamido urges delegates to vote their conscience.

------------------

10:56 pm: Sokoto Gov, Rabiu Kwankwaso speaks, promises to reform the police force and other agencies.

10:52 pm: Attahiru Bafarawa speaks, promises to support whoever emerges as PDP presidential candidate.

10:49 pm: Ex-VP, Atiku Abubakar addresses delegates, promises to create jobs and bring wealth to Nigeria.

10:17 pm: Convention Chairman, Yakubu Dogara addresses delegates.

10:15 pm: Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose arrives.

10:06 pm: PDP Presidential aspirant, Hassan Ibrahim Dankwambo arrives.

10:01 pm: PDP Chairman, Uche Secondus declares the PDP convention open.

------------------

9: 41 pm: PDP Chairman, Uche Secondus delivering opening speech.

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar arrives the convention venue.

9:23 pm: Bauchi delegates arrive.

------------------

8:52 pm: Delegates recite national anthem, as convention proceedings are about to start.

PDP Presidential aspirants will address delegates in the following order:

1. Atiku Abubakar

2. Datti Baba-Ahmed

3. Attahiru Bafarawa

4. Ibrahim Dankwambo

5. Jonah Jang

6. Rabi Kwankwaso

7. Sule Lamido

8. Ahmed Makarfi

9. David Mark

10. Bukola Saraki

11. Aminu Tambuwal

12. Kabiru Turaki

8:19 pm: Ekiti state delegates arrive.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state spotted at the convention grounds.

8:01 pm: Sokoto Gov, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal arrives Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

------------------

7:29 pm: According to SaharaReporters, Davido performs at the PDP presidential primary.

7:2 pm: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson holding a meeting with delegates from Jigawa State.

------------------

6:37 pm: Tanimu Turaki asks delegates to vote for Saraki.

------------------

5:38 pm: Femi Fani-Kayode, arrives the convention ground.

According to SaharaReporters, Agents of some aspirants are meeting with members of the electoral committee.

5:31 pm: Ebonyi State Delegates seated in the venue.

------------------

3:30 pm:Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State and Chairman, PDP National Convention Planning Committee calls for patience, explains why convention is yet to start.

------------------

2:30 pm: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan spotted with a delegate at the venue of the National Convention, according to Daily Post.

------------------

1:47 pm: Heavy presence of security men reported at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, venue of the PDP presidential primaries.

1:08 pm: Presidential Aspirants, Dr. Saraki and Governor Aminu Tambuwal after a meeting of Presidential Aspirants on the sidelines of the PDP presidential primaries.

12:27 pm: President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki meets with other presidential Aspirants.

12:11 pm: PDP Delegates from Imo and Anambra States gathering to speak to Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

------------------

9:47 am: Wike accuses APC of planning to disrupt PDP presidential primaries

------------------

6:00 am: Wike assures PDP delegates of adequate security.

Gov Tambuwal claims other aspirants have ganged up against himTanimu Turaki: