Okorocha, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) won in 20
out of the 23 Local Government areas in the state where the
supplementary election was held, polling a total of 31,326 votes.
His closest challenger, Emeka Ihedioha, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 13,624 votes.
The outcome of Saturday’s election effectively truncated Ihedioha’s hope
of overtaking the governor and winning the election. The PDP candidate
trailed Okorocha by 79,525 votes in the substantive election a
forthnight ago.
The result of the election was declared inconclusive by the Returning
Officer, Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, two weeks ago because the margin of
victory between the top two contenders the APC and the PDP was less than
the number of registered voters in areas where elections did not hold
or was cancelled due to irregularities, thus necessitating a
supplementary election, as required by the electoral law.
Announcing the total result (substantive and supplementary) polled by
the candidates in the early hours of Sunday, Ibidapo-Obe declared
Okorocha winner, having polled the highest number of votes and having
satisfied the requirement of the law.
Okorocha polled a total of 416,996 votes out of the total 806,764 votes
cast in the election. Coming a second was Ihedioha with 320,705 and
Emmanuel Ihenacho of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in
distant third with 28,434 votes.
The supporters of Okorocha at the office of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) bust into a Christian song of praise
immediately he was announced winner.
“We want to assure the Imolites that their votes count and the
expression of their gratitude in the works of His Excellency Owelle
Rochas Okorocha has been clearly registered through their votes,” said
Alfred Anunugba, the APC agent.
“I’m optimistic that we are yet to see the best of Owelle Okorocha at
work. So the Imolites are in for something greater, something more
reassuring and something enduring,”Anunugba added.
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