*Wike lauds INEC for free, fair poll

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  winners in Saturday’s re-run elections for Etche/Omuma federal constituency seat and Etche state constituency 2 seat.

Professor Shola Omotala, who announced the results for the Etche/Omuma federal constituency seat, said that the PDP had 15,221 votes while All Progressives Congress, APC, polled 6,220 votes, and declared Mr Jerome Eke, winner.

Oluwatosin Odusonya who declared Mr Tony Ejiogu of PDP winner in the Etche state constituency 2,  said the party polled 4,162 votes while APC had 1,618.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has lauded INEC  for conducting a free and fair re-run election in Etche on Saturday.

The governor spoke, yesterday, at a thanksgiving service in the state capital, Port Harcourt, saying that the electoral body had chosen to redeem what he dubbed its battered image by ensuring a credible election in the local government area this time around.

Wike boasted that the state was firmly in PDP’s grip, adding that whenever free  and fair election was conducted, his party would win.

“They should forget about this state. No matter the level of  security force, they cannot snatch Rivers State. Whenever a free and fair election  is conducted in Rivers State, PDP will win. There is no other party here in Rivers State,” he said.

He hailed the commitment of security operatives to professionalism during the re-run elections.

The governor also spoke about the success of his administration, saying he has been able to prudently manage the resources of the state since he assumed office, by delivering quality projects to the people.

However,  APC has kicked against the result, saying the elections were inconclusive.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Chris Finebone, said the elections were inconclusive, insisting that INEC should not go ahead to declare results for the alleged inconclusive  elections.

He said: “It is pertinent to remind INEC that in line with the relevant section of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), it is only the Returning Officers that are empowered to announce results of elections and not the National Electoral Commissioner, the Resident Electoral Commissioner or any other.

“The APC strongly urges INEC not to go ahead to declare results for elections that it had earlier announced as inconclusive as this will signpost a gross violation of its own rules and demonstrate the height of inconsistency and illegality on the part of INEC.

“We urge INEC to conclude the elections before declaring the results accordingly.”