Udom Emmanuel reelected Akwa Ibom governor

Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom has defeated Nsima Ekere of the All Progreesives Congress (APC), to win his re-election.

Emmanuel,won in 30 of the 31 local government areas in the state.

According to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he polled 519,712 votes while Ekere got 171,978 votes.

There were a total of 720,064 votes cast in the election which featured 45 governorship candidates.

Out of this number, 696,245 votes were valid while 15,792 were rejected.

The election in the state was marred by violence in a number of polling units including snatching of electoral materials, harassment and abduction of INEC staff.

Meanwhile, Samuel Akpan, the state agent of the APC, walked out of the collation centre after declaring the party had rejected  results as announced by INEC.

He alleged that INEC officials were compromised in the various LGAs.

Akpan said: “We are not going to accept these results and they cannot stand. We cannot be part or this process. The INEC leadership has been compromised and I hereby walk out.”