APC wins Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara as PDP takes Cross River, Delta, Imo
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won more states in the Saturday’s governorship elections announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday.
The results showed that APC won in Kaduna, Borno and Zamfara states, while PDP won in Delta and Cross River states.
In Kaduna State, Governor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai won with a margin of 231,259, as he polled 1,045,427 votes. His main challenger, Isa Ashiru of the PDP, scored 814,168 votes.
The results were announced by the Returning Officer, Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello in Kaduna yesterday afternoon. El-Rufai won in 14 out local governments, while Kudan won in nine local governments. There are 23 LGs in the state.
The results announced for the governorship election in Maiduguri, Borno State capital yesterday showed that APC’s Prof Babagana Umara Zulum won the election with wide margin.
Prof Zulum polled 1,175,440 votes to beat his PDP opponent, Mohammed Alkali Imam, who scored 66,115 votes. The APC candidate won in all the 27 local government areas of the state.
The margin between Zulum and his challenger is 1,109,325, which is the biggest margin so far of all the governorship elections results announced by INEC.
The Returning Officer of the governorship election, Professor Alhassan Mohammed Gani, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, gave the total number of registered voters in the state as 2,316,218 and the total number of accredited voters for the election as 1,292,138.
He said the total number of votes cast at the election was 1,289,027 with the total valid votes of 1,266,967 and the total number of rejected votes, 22,060.
The Returning Officer said 32 parties participated at the election.
As for Zamfara State, Mukhtar Shehu Idris of APC was declared winner of the governorship election. He polled 534,541 votes, while his opponent Bello Muhammad Mutawalle of PDP got 189,452 votes.
The returning officer for the governorship election in the state Prof Kabiru Bala announced the results.
In Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa won his re-election bid, polling 925,274 votes to defeat Great Ogboru of APC, who scored 215,938 votes.
The declaration was made by the State Returning Officer, Prof Seth Accra-Jaja, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State in Asaba.
Okowa, at a thanksgiving service in Delta Government House, said his victory came by the will of God and the resilience of Deltans.
Also, PDP’s Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State won his reelection, polling 381,484 votes to defeat Sen John Owan-Enoh of APC, who polled 131,161 votes.
Prof Akim Ibhadode, who is the Returning Officer, announced the results in Calabar.
In Imo State, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP was declared as the winner with 273,404 votes. He defeated Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA), who was backed by Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC.
Nwosu polled 190,364 votes while Uzodinma got 96,458 votes.
Meanwhile, INEC has declared the governorship election in Benue State inconclusive.
Results so far declared showed that Ortom of the PDP polled 410,576 votes while Mr Emmanuel Jime of the APC polled 329,022 votes.
The Returning Officer for Benue State Prof Sabastine Maimako said in Makurdi yesterday that the margin of lead between Ortom and Jimeh is below that of cancelled votes.
In Taraba State, Governor Darius Ishaku of the PDP is leading in 11 out of 15 local government areas so far declared by the returning officer, Professor Adamu Iya
APC gubernatorial candidate, Sani Danladi Abubakar, won in four local government areas including his local government area, Karim Lamido.
Darius won in his local government area Takum.
Results from Sardauna local government area was still being awaited as at the time of going to press.