Politics
Atiku Wins 18 LGs, Tinubu Grabs Three, Obi Takes Two In A’Ibom
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has won a total of 18 out of 23 local government results announced Sunday night by Returning Officers at the INEC state collation centre, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.
Akwa Ibom State is made up of 31 local government areas.
In Onna LGA (governor Udom’s hometown), the PDP won with 8,741 votes, LP scored a total of 4,745 votes, APC scored 1,396 votes and NNPP scored 157 votes.
In Eastern Obolo LGA, PDP scored a total of 2,345 to win the LGA, followed by APC with a total of 1,674 votes, while LP polled a total of 1,345 votes and NNPP 25 votes.
Also in Okobo LGA, the PDP won with a total of 5,273 votes, followed by APC which scored 3,168, while LP scored 2,490, NNPP – 172 and YPP – 914.
In Itu LGA, the PDP presidential candidate won in Itu LGA with 7,276 votes while LP polled a total of 6,001votes, APC scored 4,134 votes, YPP – 2,439 votes and NNPP scored a total of 991 votes.
For Esit Eket LGA, the PDP scored a total of 4,484 votes while scored APC 3,819 votes; LP scored 2,555, NNPP scored 79 votes and YPP scored 279 votes.
In Ibeno LGA, the PDP won in Ibeno presidential election with a total of 3,246 votes, LP scored 2,403 votes, APC polled a total of 878, while NNPP and YPP scored 47 and 424 votes, respectively.
Also, the PDP won Ini LGA by scoring 7,740 votes, while APC scored 3,943 votes, LP 2,894 votes and NNPP 76 votes.
The PDP also won in Nsit Atai with a total of 8,371 votes, APC scored 2,853 votes, while LP polled a total of 1,067 votes and NNPP 305 votes.
Again, PDP also won in Oron by scoring 3,295 votes, LP 3,033 votes, APC 2,443votes and NNPC 59 votes.
In Etinan LGA, PDP scored a total of 10,455 votes, followed by APC which scored 4,505 votes, and then LP with 4,180 votes.
In the same vein, in Nsit Ubium LGA, PDP won with a huge score of 11,308 Votes, while APC polled a total of 2,792 votes and LP scored a total of 2,329, while NNPP and YPP scored 279 and 427, respectively.
For Nsit Ibom LGA, the PDP also polled a total of 8,176 votes to defeat APC, LP and NNPP which scored 5,975; 2,215 and 128, respectively.
For Mkpat Enin LGA, also the PDP presidential candidate won with a total of 9,441, followed by LP which scored 4,105 votes, APC scored 2,152 votes and NNPP scored 187 votes.
Again, the PDP won in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA with a total of 9,326 votes, APC 6,480 votes, LP- 3,698 votes and NNPP 345 votes.
In Mbo LGA, the PDP won by scoring 3,922 votes, APC scored 3,204 votes, LP polled 1,456 votes and NNPP scored – 56 votes.
In Ikono LGA, the PDP also won by polling 6,731 votes, APC 6,622votes and LP 5,198, votes.
Also in Udung Uko LGA, the PDP won with a total of PDP 2,701votes, while APC and LP scored 1,555, and 1,068, respectively.
Again in Uruan LGA, PDP won with a total of 9,327 votes while the APC scored 5,287 and LP 3,024 votes.
Also in Obot Akara LGA, the PDP won with 8,029 votes, APC scored 4,477votes while LP scored 2,542.
However, the Labour Party won in two local government areas, including Uyo, the state capital with a total of 27, 534 votes, while the PDP polled a total of 12,245, the APC scored 7,769, and NNPP scored 1,044.
The LP also won in Ibiono Ibom LGA with a total score of 7,752, followed by the PDP which scored 5274, the APC scored 3,407 and NNPP 997.
On its part, the second major visible political party in the state, the APC won in no fewer than three LGA namely Etim Ekpo, Ika and Urueoffong/Oruko.
In Etim Ekpo LGA, the APC won with a total of 5,182 votes, followed by PDP which polled 4,733 votes, LP 1,711 votes, NNPP – 40 votes and YPP – 278 votes.
In Urueoffong/Oruko the APC won with 3,697 votes, while PDP polled 3,419 votes and LP 2,010 votes.
Also in Ika LGA, the APC polled a total of 5,511, the PDP 3,750 votes and the LP 1,054 votes.
According to INEC, the remaining LGAs presidential results would be announced on Monday when the Returning Officers and Electoral Officers arrive at the collation centre in Uyo.
The LGs include Abak, Eket, Essien Udim, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, and Urue.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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