The people’s Democratic Party candidate, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has been declared the winner of the governorship polls in Akwa Ibom state.
Udom scored a total of 996, 071 votes out of a total of 1, 222, 836 votes cast in Akwa Ibom state to defeat his APC counterpart, Umana Okon Umana who polled a total of 89, 865.
The results were however announced yesterday amidst protest by irate youths suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives congress in the state.
The youths numbering over 5, 000 blocked the major entrance to the INEC office to protest the governorship results which they alleged were manipulated in favour of the people’s Democratic Party.
Announcing the result at the conference hall of the state INEC headquarters, the collation office in charge of the state, Prof James Ekpoke said the total number of registered voters were 1, 548, 531 while accredited voters stood at 1, 158, 624.
According to Ekpoke who is also the Vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, the total valid votes in the election stood at 1, 110, 580 while the total number of votes cast was 1, 122, 836 with 12, 256 as rejected votes.
According to the result AC came third with a total of 10, 598 votes while other parties trailed behind with less than 1, 000 votes.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Paul Ekpo while speaking with journalists shortly after the announcement of the result attributed to the victory to all the people of Akwa Ibom.
He said, “This victory is not a victory for the People’s Democratic Party alone, it’s a victory for our good people.
“This is no doubt a step in the right direction and the people have decided that our candidate should continue with the legacies of our amiable governor in sustaining the development that has enveloped the state.”
Our correspondent reports that the APC was not satisfied with the result announced yesterday and has called for the cancellation of the results.
Throughout the announcement of the result none of the agents of the APC were around, neither did they sign the result sheet.