UPDATE: PDP congratulates winners as party defeats APC in Rivers rerun elections

UPDATE: PDP congratulates winners as party defeats APC in Rivers rerun elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the rerun election for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in Rivers state.

PDP’s candidate in the electorate Jerome Eke polled 15,221 ahead of his APC counterpart Ogbonna Nwuke’s 6,220.

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The electoral body’s returning officer Professor Olushola Omotayo declared the results of the election held on Saturday, February 25 at the INEC collation centre in Okehi, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The PDP also beat the APC in the election for Etche Constituency II, polling 4,210 votes to APC’s 1,070.

Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike monitoring the ballot counting in the rerun elections on Saturday, February 25.

The PDP has congratulated the winners and thanked Rivers state residents for preventing rigging of the rerun elections.

The statement acquired by NAIJ.com read: "We congratulates Chief Jerome Eke and Mr. Tony Ejiogu on their successes at the just concluded Rivers legislative rerun elections.

"Chief Jerome Eke of PDP won the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers state with 15,221 votes defeating Mr. Ogbonna of APC. While Mr. Tony Ejiogu of the PDP also won the Etche State Constituency 2, defeating his closest rival, Mr. Golden of the APC.

"We thank the electorates in Etche/Omuma Constituencies for again standing against rigging and oppression of APC-led government.

"Rivers state is home of the PDP and no amount of intimidation and harassment will stop the people from voting the PDP in all elections.

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"We also congratulates all the PDP LGA Chairmen and councilors in Taraba and Gombe states respectively in the just concluded LGA elections.

"PDP remains the only national party in Nigeria and we must all work together to resist the interference of APC in our affairs."

Meanwhile, fear of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP has gripped leaders of the Ahmed Makarfi faction in Delta state.

This is so as the party leaders, including the state governor Ifeanyi Okowa, are becoming jittery as there are fears that the party structure led by Kingsley Esiso, the PDP Delta state chairman, could be dismantled by the Sheriff faction if the Supreme Court eventually proclaims victory for the Sheriff group.