Rivers Election: Wike set for Victory of Amaechi’s AAC

Rivers State governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike, seems to be coasting to victory in the state’s governorship election as he has so far defeated the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Engr. Biomakpabo Awara, in 13 out of the 15 local government areas that had their results announced yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC continued with the collation and announcement of the March 9 governorship poll and February 23 National Assembly election after a panel investigated the election and declared that it has the results of 17 local government areas.

The panel also assured that the results for the remaining six local government areas would be collated and announced when it concludes the state’s electoral process.

When the panel resumed the state’s election process yesterday, there was heavy presence of security personnel along Aba Road, especially in front of INEC headquarters as patrol vehicles moved around the adjoining roads in the Government Reservation Area (GRA).

Wike won in Port Harcourt City, Ikwerre, Andoni, Eleme, Opobo-Nkoro, Bonny, Okirika, Omuma, Ahoada East, Etche, Tai, Emuoha and Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni.

On his part, Awara of AAC, won in Oyigbo and Akoku Toru local government areas.

In the 15 local government areas, Wike scored a total of 426,279 votes, while Awara polled 129,328 votes.

In Ikwerre, the local government area of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Wike scored 14,938 votes, while Awara scored 5,660 votes.

The results of the poll so far declared show that Wike, who is governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leading by a margin of 296,424 votes.

Obo Effanga, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, said collation will continue by 10am on Wednesday (today).

There are two more local government areas INEC is yet to announce, while supplementary election will hold across six local government areas on April 13.

Amaechi is supporting the AAC in the election as internal crisis prevented the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State from fielding candidates for the 2019 general elections.

A breakdown of the result shows that in Onelga Local Government Area, Wike polled 31,277 votes against Awara’s 8,423. Scores in other local government are Etche (AAC 7,437 – PDP 11,842), Emohua (AAC 2,856 – PDP 71,522), Ahoada East (AAC 3,713 – PDP 14,589), Tai (AAC 540 – PDP 47,652), Akuku Toru (AAC 36,661 – PDP 25,765) and Phalga (AAC 11,866 – PDP 40,197).

Others are Opobo/Nkoro (AAC 3,888 – PDP 6,314), Okrika (AAC 3,803 – PDP 25,572), Omuma (AAC 1,853 – PDP 15,792), Oyigbo (AAC 32,026 – PDP 8,612), Bonny (AAC 3,046 – PDP 10,551), Eleme (AAC 2,748 – PDP 9,560), Ikwerre (PDP 14,938 – AAC: 5,660) and Andoni (AAC 5,335 – PDP 92,056)

Also, the senatorial candidates of the PDP won the elections conducted in the three senatorial districts in Rivers State.

The trio of George Sekibo (Rivers East), Barry Mpigi (Rivers South East) and Betty Apiafi (Rivers West) defeated their opponents, to ensure a clean sweep for the PDP.

After the announcement of the 15 council areas results, INEC suspended the collation of results.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Obo Effanga, announced at the collation centre in Port Harcourt, the state capital that the electoral body will continue with the exercise at 10.am on Wednesday (today).

Effanga worked with the National Commissioner in charge of Bayelsa, Rivers and Edo, May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC RECs in Ebonyi and Niger states, in overseeing the collation exercise.

Some supporters of Wike and the PDP National Assembly candidates took to the social media to celebrate what they described as “delayed victory” of Wike and his team.

It would be recalled that INEC had on March 10, suspended the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State till further notice.

The commission premised its action on some factors, including the widespread disruption of elections and violence in polling units and collation centres.

The commission consequently set up a fact-finding committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.

The commission’s National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, then explained that while staff of the electoral body were taken hostage, materials including result sheets were either been seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.

A statement he signed read in part: “Based on reports from our officials in the field, the Independent National Electoral Commission has determined that there has been widespread disruption of elections conducted on March 9 2019 in Rivers State.

“These initial reports suggest that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centres, staff have been taken hostage and materials including result sheets have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorized persons.

“In addition, safety of our staff appears to be in jeopardy all over the state and the commission is concerned about the credibility of the process.

“Consequently, at a meeting held today (Sunday) March 10 2019, the commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in the state until further notice.

“This is in line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47(e) of the regulations and guidelines of the commission. The commission has also established a fact-finding committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.

“We appeal to the people of Rivers State, particularly the voters, for their understanding as we look into the circumstances of these disruptions and what further action needs to be taken.”