Jubilation in A/Ibom as Gov. Udom secures second term

Isaac Job, Uyo

There was wild jubilation in Akwa Ibom state yesterday as Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the governorship election to secure a second term in office.

Gov. Emmanuel, who won with a wide margin in 30 out of the 31 local government areas in the state polled 519, 712 votes to defeat his rival, Nsima Ekere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has 171, 978 votes.

The governor was declared winner of the elections by the collation officer in the state, Prof. Osasere Orumwense.

Speaking at the state collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Uyo, Prof. Orumwense said that “I was the electoral officer of the Akwa Ibom state gubernatorial elections held on March 9 and the following candidates received the following votes; Nsima Ekere of the APC received 171, 978 votes and Udom Emmanuel of the PDP received 519, 712 votes.

“That Udom Emmanuel of PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, I hereby declare Udom as the winner and he is returned re – elected,” he said.

In Essien Udim Local Government where the APC won, election results were announced in only two out of the 11 wards, while results in nine wards were cancelled due to irregularities and reports that the collation and electoral officers were made to sign the results under duress.

However, the agent of the APC, Samuel Akpan has called for the cancellation of the results, saying the elections were a scam.

Akpan, who walked out after the results of Essien Udim Local Government Area was announced, alleged that there widespread violence, snatching of ballot boxes and thuggery characterized the elections.

He added that the results were doctored by the collation and electoral officers to favour the PDP.

“We are not going to accept these results because the entire process by INEC was rigged and the resident electoral commissioner has been compromised. The report is not expressing what happened on the field, the results would only help the wickedness of the party and not democracy,” he said.

However, the National Legal adviser of the PDP, Emmanuel Enoidem commended the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini for presiding over the election, noting that he has instilled confidence in the electoral process.

He alleged that Senator Godswill Akpabio in collaboration with other party leaders rigged the elections in Essien Udim and had no regard for the card reader.

“I want to thank and salute the courage of the Mike Igini for instilling confidence in the electoral process,” he said.