By CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI-The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, weekend, declared Innocent Ekeh of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, winner of the re-run state constituency poll in Owerri West local council area of Imo State.

From the result released by INEC and announced by the Returning Officer, Professor S. O. E. Ugbogu, Ekeh floored his closest rival in the contest, Henry Onwukwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to the Returning Officer, Ekeh won with 11,957, while Onwukwe garnered 10,132 to place second on the score card. He said that only seven political parties took part in the contest.

Speaking to journalists after the release of the result, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, INEC Office, Imo State, Mr. Chinedu Onyeji, said the exercise was hitch free.

Vanguard recalls that INEC ordered a re-run in some polling booths because of alleged irregularities that were perpetrated by some people in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Oguta state constituency remains the only seat in the House of Assembly that is unoccupied, following the suit filed by aggrieved members of the PDP.

With the current result, APGA has 15 seats, while PDP and Action Congress of Nigeria recorded 10 and one respectively.