Ekere wins Akwa Ibom APC guber primaries

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere, has won the gubernatorial primaries for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state.

Ekere beat three other contestants to emerge the flag bearer of the party for the 2019 gubernatorial elections with a total of 160,458 votes while Senator John Akpanudoedehe polled 2,015 votes. Mr. Dan Abia had 4,189 votes and Mr. Edet Efretuei had 1,234 votes. A total of 167,896 votes were cast, and eight votes voided.

Announcing the results in Uyo, the chief returning officer, Mr. Yamah Momoh, said elections were carried out in 30 local government areas except Uyo, where the election was not concluded.

He said according to the guidelines of the party, where there are incidences of hijack, thuggery and petition, election results cannot be declared; therefore the election in Uyo local government area was not declared as there were allegations of such happenings in the city during the election.

“We did not receive any vote from Uyo LGA other than two petitions that were sent to us. The petitions are meant for the appeal committee panel. The summary of one of the petitions is that there was no voting in Uyo LGA because materials were snatched by thugs led by somebody named here. Police vehicles were damaged and some police officers injured, which of course, was sent to us by one Hon. Emmanuel Ogan, who is the Uyo Returning Officer.

“This we will take to the party headquarters for their action by the appeal committee because an allegation of crime where thugs invaded a polling booth and carted away materials, I’m sure the appeal committee will liaise with the national working committee to launch investigation on how and what happened. We are yet to know.

“There is another one which was just submitted in handwritten a short while ago to me as the chairman. It also alleged the same thing but contradictory in the sense that there were figures which I mention here and which are not in line with the materials given out. They are not in accordance with the guidelines, and even from the context, it is obvious that the person merely concocted it. It was addressed to me and signed by one Okokon Okon and one Sunny Duncan,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Ekere attributed the victory to the party, noting that he was dedicating his victory to all the members of the party in the state.

He said all members would be carried along in the party and called on them to join hands in ensuring that APC wins the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the state.

He said, “I dedicate my victory to all members of the party in the 329 wards in Akwa Ibom State. For me, the process that started yesterday ended a few minutes ago. There was no victor or loser, APC is the winner and all my brothers that ran along with me.

“I extend my right hand of fellowship to all of them. We shall begin immediately by healing the wounds in the nomination process. We need a strong, united, peaceful party towards the gubernatorial election.

“We will do everything within our power to ensure that all members feel a sense of belonging. We must work together, plan together, and conspire together to win this election.”