EXTRA: PDP declared winner of Akpabio’s LGA — but AKISIEC lists APC candidate as chairman-elect

October 7, 2024 9:50 am

File photo of voting in a Nigerian state

On Saturday, the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) conducted local government elections in the 31 LGAs and 369 wards of the state.

In the result posted by AKISIEC on Sunday, the PDP won in 30 LGAs, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed one local council.

Typically, the electoral commission publishes the results announced by returning officers for each LGA — but the election in the south-south state took a bizarre turn in Essien Udim.

Godswill Akpabio, senate president and former governor of Akwa Ibom, hails from Esien Udim LGA of the state.

Inyang Ating, a professor from the University of Uyo who served as AKISIEC returning officer for Essien Udim LGA, had declared Enobong Patrick Friday of the PDP as the winner of the election in the area.

Announcing the results, Ating said Friday scored a total of 55,612 votes, while Usoro Ntiedo of the APC got 686 votes.

“That Enobong P. Friday of the PDP having complied with the requirement of the law and scored the majority votes is hereby declared elected,” he said.

“I want to add that Enobong P. Friday, in addition to scoring the majority votes, had more than 25 percent in all the 13 wards of Esien Udim local area.”

However, AKISIEC published Ntiedo’s name as the winner of the poll.

The result was signed by Aniedi Ikoiwak, AKISIEC chairman.

The state electoral commission did not explain why Ntiedo was declared winner — contradicting the results announced by the returning officer.