Rivers rerun: APC leading PDP after results in 11 seats

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is leading in the legislative rerun election in Rivers state, while there are controversies in areas where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is performing well.

A total of 20 seats were contested in the election – three in the senate, eight at the house of representatives and nine at the state house of assembly.

So far, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the result of one senatorial district, three federal constituencies and five state constituencies, making nine in all.

Of the nine, TheCable has been able to compile seven results. PDP has won two seats, while its opponent has won the remaining five.

In Okrika Ogu/Bolo federal constituency, Okwulehie Ikechukwu, the returning officer, declared Gogo Tamuno of the PDP winner, saying he polled 11,668 votes to defeat Maureen Tamuno of the APC, who secured 5,995 votes.

In Khana/Gokana federal constituency, Maurice Pronen polled 68,219 votes to defeat Dumnamene Dekor, his PDP opponent, who secured 20,329 votes.

With 48,760 votes, Barry Mpigi of the APC defeated Jacobson Nbina of the PDP rival, who had 11,737 votes in Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme federal constituency.

In Khana state constituency 2, Friday Nkeeh of the APC defeated Dinebari Loolo of the PDP. Nkeeh got 15,000 votes, while his opponent polled 4,000 votes.

In Bonny state constituency, Abinye Pepple of the PDP polled 6,610 votes to defeat APC’s Henry Halliday, who came second with 2330 votes.

With 24,624 votes, Innocent Barikor of APC won Gokana state constituency.

While Magnus Abe of the APC secured 125,938 votes to defeat Olaka Nwogu of the PDP, who secured 25,394 votes in Rivers east senatorial district.

Official results of Rivers east and Rivers west senatorial districts are yet to be released, but results trickling in from the polling units show the PDP leading in the areas.

In Rivers east, results of all but two of the eight local governments, have been declared, with PDP winning.

As of 5:25am on Sunday when collation was suspended, George Sekibo of the PDP was leading Andrew Uchendu of APC by 49,937 votes. While Sekibo polled a total of 77,691 votes, Uchendu managed to secure 27,754.

Oji Ekumankama, returning officer for Rivers east, could not explain the delay of announcement.

He initially said the officials on the field were bringing the results of Emouha and Ikwerre local governments; however, after hours of fruitless wait, some INEC officials left.

Ekumankama had told TheCable that he would wait until the results were brought.

“I am very disturbed at the moment,” he had said.

“We just have to announce a winner. Even if everyone leaves, I will still remain here. As the returning officer, I have nowhere to go until the result is announced.

“I know that something is wrong somewhere, but this is our country; we will all do our best to develop it.”

A “powerful politician” was accused of hijacking the result of Ikwerre, where Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, and Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, hail from.

TheCable made efforts to reach the duo for their reactions.

While Amaechi, who spoke through David Iyiofor, his media aide, denied the report, Wike could not be reached for comments.

Simeon Nwakaudu, his spokesman, did not respond to TheCable’s email.

Wike has accused INEC of working for the APC. He said the PDP had won in Rivers East and West based on results from polling units.

He also called on INEC to immediately release the results of Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro federal constituency and Andoni state constituency, which he claimed the PDP had won.

However, voting was extended to Monday in Akuku-Toru local government as a result of violence.

Mustapha Lecky, INEC’s national commissioner for the south-south zone, announced this at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in the state.

“There was so much violence in the area and the police advised that people need to be safe. So we have to withdraw our people and the materials,” he said.

“These are some of the challenges we faced. But we are determined and confident that we will conclude the process on Monday and it will not go beyond that day.”

He also said the commission was awaiting results in some constituencies.

“We have made some progress in collating the results of this election and I can confirm that a number of the results have been declared,” he said.