It was a sad Saturday as Nsima Ekere, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, lost the election in Ikot Abasi, his own local government area.
Mr Ekere, immediate past managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), scored 7,549 votes, while the incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 9, 335 votes, according to the result announced on Sunday in Uyo by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC said the number of registered voters in Ikot Abasi in the governorship election was 54,752, the accredited voters were 17, 693, and the total valid vote cast was 16, 996.
The election was, however, cancelled in about 10 units in four wards because of violence, mostly in Edemaya where the APC candidate, Mr Ekere, is from, INEC said.
His loss may not be unconnected with the bulldozing political machines rolled into Ikot Abasi by Uwem Okoko, the managing Director of Hensek Construction Company, a company that is handling some road contracts for Udom Emmanuel.
