After days of tension and uncertainty, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced result of Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial district.
Announcing the result on Tuesday at the commission’s office along Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo, Professor Peter Iko Ogban, the returning officer for last Saturday’s election in the area, declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Engr. Christopher Ekpenyong, winner.
Ogban said Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor, polled118,215 votes to beat the incumbent, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress who scored 83,158 votes.
Professor Ogban said total registered votes for Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district was 655,525, total accredited votes was 218,493 while the total number of valid votes cast was 202,387. The votes rejected were 7,307.
Agents of both the PDP and APC signed the result.
INEC’s official announcement of the Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district result has finally ended Akpabio’s fight to hold on to the senate seat.
The returning officer for Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara/Essien Federal constituency, Dr. Daniel Udoh had similarly declared Ekong Nsikan Okon of the PDP winner of the election for the federal constituency, having scored a total number of 29,849 votes.
However, Dr. Ani Asikpo, the PDP agent for Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district, expressed satisfaction with outcome of the election, saying it was the true reflection of the wishes of people of the area.
