The candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has been declared winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state after polling a total of 886,264 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, who garnered 173,859 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resumed the collation of Rivers State Governorship results on April 2 after it was suspended last month due to the disruption of the collation exercise by political tugs and some security officials.
Wike was in clear lead when the collation exercise resumed on Tuesday with 426,369 votes against 129,855 garnered by Awara from 15 local government areas.
The lead was extended when the commission announced the remaining results from eight LGAs on Wednesday, bringing Wike’s total vote to 886,264, while Awara had 173,859.
Reacting to the victory, the PDP described Governor Nyesom Wike’s victory at the Rivers Governorship election as a victory for the people of Rivers State and the triumph of good over evil.
The party in a statement on Wednesday said Governor Wike’s record 700,000 votes margin of victory over the disgraced combined anti-people forces of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Action Congress (AAC) and compromised security agencies speaks volume of the resilience of the people of Rivers State in the face of intimidations, harassment, and manipulations by oppressive forces.
“The victory reinforces the confidence of the people in the resoluteness of asserting their democratic choice of leadership as well as standing in defence of their mandate to the end.
“It also demonstrates that the will of the people will always prevail against every form of suppression as were eminently manifested in the desperation by the APC leaders, particularly, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to forcefully and violently take over control of the state against the wish of the people.
“The party salutes and venerates all compatriots who were killed by agents of the oppressors during the election. These compatriots did not die in vain and those who shed their innocent blood will surely be brought to book.
“The PDP commends Governor Wike, the people of Rivers State and all lovers of democracy across the board for standing firm until the very end to hand this disgraceful defeat to the enemies of the people,” the party said.
GIK/APA