The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Nyesom Wike, has defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the African Action Congress, Biokpomabo Awara as governor of Rivers State
Wike, who is also the incumbent polled 888,264 votes to beat Awara who polled 137,859 votes.
INEC’s collation officer for the governorship election, Prof. Teddy Adias, on Wednesday, declared the PDP candidate winner having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes.
Adias declared the total margin of between the two contestants as 712,405.
He said, “I, this day, confirm again, that I am the collation officer for the elections and that Nyesom Wike of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, has scored the highest number of votes and is hereby declared winner and returned elected.
“The winner, with the highest votes, scored 886,264 and the second scored 173,859. The margin of lead with these votes stands at 712,405. A total number of registered voters in area where elections did not hold or cancelled stands at 249,324.”
He said the total number of registered voters was 3,048,741, accredited voters 1,130,445, valid votes cast 1,102,823, total votes cast, 1,123,840 and voided votes, 249,324.
The governor won in 19 local government areas out of the 21 that was declared while Awara won in two LGAs; Akuku-Toru (his native area) and Oyigbo LGA.
Interestingly, Wike also won in Ikwerre, the native home of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
