INEC declares PDP’s Emmanuel winner of Akwa Ibom governorship poll

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Udom Emmanuel, has won the governorship election in Akwa Ibom, the Independent National Electoral Commissioner announced Sunday.
The announcement came amid calls for the cancellation of the polls over widespread violence and irregularities.

At least three people were killed Saturday during the elections, the police said Sunday.
Announcing the result of the election on Sunday in Uyo, the Returning Officer for the election, James Epoke, said Mr. Emmanuel scored 996, 071 votes to defeat his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Umana Umana, who polled 89, 865 votes.
According to the Returning Officer, Helen Esuene of Labour Party scored 8,600 votes and while Samuel Akpan of Accord Party polled 10, 598 votes.
Mr. Epoke said that Mr. Emmanuel won in all the 31 local government areas in the state.
He said the total number of registered voters in the state was 1,548,531 while 1,158,624 voters were accredited for the election, adding that total valid votes cast in the election was 1,110,580.
Void votes, he said, were 12, 256 and total votes cast 1, 122, 836.
“By the provision of the Electoral Act, Emmanuel, having scored the highest number of votes cast in the election, is hereby declared elected,” he announced.
Speaking on the outcome of the election, Paul Ekpo, the PDP Chairman in the state, appealed to all the contestants to accept the result.
Mr. Ekpo said, “I hope other candidates who contested this election will allow peace to reign as President Goodluck Jonathan did”.
Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom were marred by violence.
The state commissioner of police for the state, Garbiel Achong, confirmed Sunday that at least three people were killed and 20 arrested for multiple electoral offences.
The result came as protests erupted in parts of the state, with many calling for the polls to be cancelled.
The APC candidate, Umana Umana, had earlier called for the election to be cancelled on similar grounds. Mr. Umana, as well as other political leaders in the state, including former governor, Victor Attah, said elections did not take place at many centres.
Witnesses said there were multiple cases of ballot box-snatching by thugs, and some accused the PDP-led government of colluding with INEC officials and the police to undermine the polls.
(NAN)