Posted on: 01:36 Sun, 26 Feb 2017

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the People's Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the rerun election for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in Rivers state.



*RESULTS: ETCHE/OMUMAFEDERAL CONSTITUENCY: APC 6220 PDP 15,221

*ETCHE STATE CONSTITUENCY 2: APC 1618 PDP 4162

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency after INEC Returning Officer, Prof Shola Omotola completed the collation of results at the Collation Center at Okehi.Collated Results for Etche State Constituency 2, Vanguard reports.

With the results collated from the Supplementary Elections of February 25, 2017 and rerun elections of December 10, 2016, Chief Jerome Eke of the PDP defeated Mr Ogbonna Nwuke of the APC.

Also, the Tony Ejiogu of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated his closest challenger, Mr Golden of the APC.

For the Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Returning Officer, Prof Shola Omotola announced that APC Polled 6, 220 votes while PDP polled 15, 221 votes.

For the Etche State Constituency 2, Returning Officer, Oluwatosin Odusonya announced that APC scored 1618 votes while PDP polled 4162 votes.

As the two INEC Returning Officers for the Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Prof Shola Omotola and Etche Constituency 2, Oluwatosin Odusonya were about to declare the PDP winner, military personnel at the Collation Center brought a phone to them, claiming that the call was from the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of the election.



Upon receiving the call, INEC Returning Officer for Etche/ OmumaFederal Constituency, Prof Shola Omotola stated that all collated results should be moved to the Port Harcourt office of INEC.

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army who stopped the declaration at Okehi moved the collated results alongside party agents and political leaders to Port Harcourt. They were joined by PDP leaders led by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the APC Candidate for Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Mr Ogbonna Nwuke.

At the headquarters, leaders of the two parties insisted that the two INEC Returning Officers publicly announce collated results to the media and party agents present.

After the announcement, the INEC Returning Officers handed the already collated results to party agents.

Party leaders left INEC by 3.30am on Sunday morning, while agents and security agencies were detailed to stay with the INEC Returning Officers for the declaration of results by 9am on Sunday, 26th February, 2017.

The Returning Officers claimed that they were directed by the National Commissioner not to declare PDP winner of the two elections. They claimed that the National Commissioner said she must get clearance from Abuja, before any further step would be taken.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike condemned the act of trying to subvert the will of the people Rivers State through INEC Result manipulation, backed reckless security agencies.

He said Rivers people will continue to resist all fraudulent attempts to manipulate election results.

He declared that elections can only be won at the polling units and not through the swapping of result sheets by security agencies and INEC.