PDP Sweeps NASS Polls In Rivers …Abia, Enugu Too

Nigerians queuing up to cast their voters in the just-concluded National Assembly election, in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Saturday. Photo: Chris Monyanga.

Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon Magnus Abe and four former commissioners in Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s cabinet won  elections to represent their people in the National Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Commissioners are Hon Dakuku Peterside, (Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro), Dr Dawari George, (Akuku-Toru/ Asari-Toru), Hon Kingsley O. Chinda, (Obio/Akpor) and Ken Chikere, (Port Harcourt constituency I).

Hon Abe won the Rivers South-East Senatorial seat, while Senator Wilson Asonibe Ake of Rivers West (PDP) and Senator George T. Sekibo of Rivers East  PDP were returned to the Upper Chambers having defeated their opponents in last Saturday’s election.

Abe polled 154, 218 votes to defeat Dr Monetee Kpean who scored 34, 938 votes. Senator Wilson Ake scored 34, 931 to beat Hon Shedrack Akaloku of ACN who had 6, 446.

According to the result made available to journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, PDP won in all the federal constituencies.

In Port Harcourt federal constituency I, Hon Ken Chikere of the PDP scored 18, 671 votes against Chidiebere Okwu-Worlu who had 7, 800 votes.

In Okrika/Ogo/Bolo Federal Constituency, Sogo Bright Tamuno of PDP scored 23,192 votes to beat the incumbent, Hon John Kalipa of ACN with 7, 718 while Barry Mpigi the current chairman of Tai Local Government beat Nancy Nwankwo of the ACN 75,805, 9,334 and APGA Worgu Eze 1,546.

Hon Andrew Uchendu of Ikwerre/Emohua beat his close rival, ACN Emma Okah, 42,545 against 15,347 votes.

Hon Kingsley Chinda of the PDP in Obio/Akpor defeated two other candidates of APGA who scored 9,359 votes and ACN 609 votes, while the incumbent Hon Betty Apiafi in Abua/Odual of PDP scored 28,266 votes to beat ACN 2,800, APGA 1,218 and UNPP 155.

In Etche/Omuma, Hon Ogbonna Nwuke defeated the ACN candidate with 28,438 votes against 10, 918. Degema/Bonny, Senator Davies of PDP beat ACN candidate 23,394 against 4,901.

Hon Osita of PDP won the Ahoada West /Ogba /Egbema with 42,124 and ACN 13,777 votes.

Meanwhile, the election for Port Harcourt Constituency II was postponed till April 26, 2011.

In Abia State the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a clean sweep of the National Assembly polls conducted in the state last Saturday as it won two of the three senatorial seats and seven House of Representatives seats.

As at Press time, results of Abia North Senatorial star contest between Comrade Uche Chukwumerije of PDP and former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu as well as the result of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency were still being awaited.

Senator Nkechi Nwaogu staged a comeback, having polled 143, 663 votes to dust eight other candidates. Also, Senator Enyinna Abaribe,  scored 90, 773 votes to defeat his rivals to return to the apex law making body. PPA candidates were placed distant second with APGA coming third.

In the House of Representatives, Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Nnenna Ukeje, Eziuche Ubani and Uzoma Abonta won in their various constituencies for a second term.

A first timer, Barrister Oluchi Ibeji of the PDP also emerged victorious in Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, while Barrister Uzo Azubuike of the PDP, was victorious in the Aba Federal Constituency.

Azubuike, who is currently representing Aba Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, defeated Nna Uzor Kalu who has occupied the seat for 12 years.

The elections were peaceful in the state despite late take-off occasioned by late arrival of materials. In Obingwa, a former Deputy Governor, Comrade Chris Akomas, and the APGA Senatorial candidate, Nyerere Anyim, attributed the late distribution of materials to alleged manipulations by the ruling PDP.

They alleged that INEC had distributed the materials but that PDP stalwarts held on to the original result sheets and the NYSC Presiding officers.

However, The Tide learnt that the youth corps members insisted on being accompanied by security agencies and only departed for their areas of posting when security was provided.

In a related development, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won all the three Senatorial seats and all the eight House of Representatives seats in the National Assembly election held last Saturday in Enugu State.

Announcing the result to newsmen in his office yesterday the Independent Ntional Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Mr. Josiah Uwazuruonye, said that in Enugu East senatorial zone, Prince Gilbert Nnaji of   PDP scored 67,330 votes to emerge Winner of the contest, beating former Governor of the state and incumbent Senator of the zone,  

Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani of PDC. Nnamani polled 32,005 votes while other contestants from APGA, LP,CAN, CPC and ANPP came behind.           

In the same vein,in the Enugu North senatorial zone, incumbent Senator, Ayogu Eze of the  PDP polled a total of 87,220 votes to emerge Winner, beating other contestants, while in the Enugu West Senatorial Zone, the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu of PDP scored a total of 112,806 votes to defeat other candidates from other political parties that took part in the election.