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A new political era seems to have emerged in Kwara State with
the decimation of the political machinery of Olusola Saraki, the hitherto
strong man of the state’s politics by the victory of the People’s Democratic
Party in Tuesday’s governorship election.

Besides that, the political rivalry between the leader of the
Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and his son, Bukola Saraki, who is the
state governor, seems to have been resolved – naturally.

Following the older Saraki’s endorsement of his daughter,
Gbemisola Saraki, currently a senator, to aspire to be the state’s PDP
governorship candidate, a gulf emerged between the duo of the father and
daughter, on the one hand, and the governor on the other, with their loyalists
across the state divided on both sides.

Mr Saraki, popularly referred to as ‘Oloye’ by his loyalists, is
well known for determining the political fate of Kwarans since the creation of
the state in 1967. It was gathered that no governor has ever governed the state
without his consent, ranging from the military administrators to the
democratically elected governors.

Although the governor made efforts to reach an understanding
with his father, he was not successful, as his father was determined to make
his daughter the next governor of the state. When that became difficult, he
defected to the ACPN, along with his daughter, to achieve his aim.

Unfortunately for the political icon, end has finally come to
his political struggle as he conceded victory to his son in the just concluded
governorship election in the state.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore,
had also threatened the authority of Mr Saraki by standing out to unseat the
ruling party as well as defeat the kingmaker. Following the collapse of an
attempted alliance between the ACN and the ACPN, Mr Saraki’s hope of remaining
the father of governors in the state was cut short.

End of an era

Mr Saraki, a Second Republic Senate leader and Waziri of Ilorin,
was born on the 17th of May, 1933, in Ilorin, Kwara State. His mother was from
Iseyin in Oyo State and his father from Ilorin. His paternal ancestors were
Fulanis who came from Mali about 150 to 200 years earlier.

He was educated at Eko Boys High School. He attended the
University of London, and St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London. He
worked as a medical officer at the General Hospital, Lagos, and the Creek
Hospital, Lagos.

In 1977, Mr Saraki was elected a member of the Constituent
Assembly that produced the 1979 constitution. In 1979, he was elected a Senator
of the Second Republic, and later became Senate leader. In 1983, he was re-elected
into the Senate under the platform of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

He then sponsored Adamu Attah, who emerged as the governor
between 1979 and 1983. Mr Attah’s inability to meet up with some laid down
rules and his attempt to seek re-election in 1983 led to crises between him and
his godfather, Mr Saraki.

Mr Saraki eventually declared his support for the then Unity
Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidate, Cornelius Adebayo, on the eve of the election
and this led to the downfall of the NPN in the race.

In 1998, Mr Saraki became a national leader and member of the
board of trustees of the All People’s Party (APP), contributing to the party’s
success in Kwara and Kogi States. He assisted Mohammed Alabi Lawal in becoming
governor of Kwara State.

Following a disagreement between him and Mr Lawal, Mr Saraki
switched allegiance to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and in the 2003
elections supported his son, Bukola Saraki, as candidate for governor of Kwara
State, and his daughter as senator for Kwara State Central.

With his son’s two-term tenure coming to an end in May, 2011,
and in a bid to continue calling the shots in the state’s politics, he threw
his weight behind his daughter’s quest to take over from her brother as
governor of Kwara.

But this has finally proved impossible, a situation analysts say may have
ended the political dominance of the state by Mr Saraki, and indeed rendered
the Saraki political dynasty irrelevant in the scheme of things in the state.

At least three
people were feared dead while scores were injured yesterday in renewed
hostilities between two rival youth gangs in Ekpan community in Uvwie
Council of Delta State.

Commercial
activities and social life were paralysed in the community as shops,
offices and market places were closed down following the terror
unleashed by the rampaging youths. Some residents were seen fleeing the
community, which has been a battle ground for four days.

The community has been embroiled in communal conflicts between two warring youth groups over the leadership of the youth body.

It was gathered
that heavy fighting commenced as soon as the governorship and state
house of assembly polls were rounded off in the area, which caused
stampede as voters scampered for safety in nearby buildings.

A resident, Andrew
Okotete said yesterday’s clash erupted when one unidentified youth was
shot dead by a rival group, which prompted both women and young men to
take to the streets to vent their anger over the gruesome killing of
the youth.

“We are tired of
these senseless clashes by youths in this community. Our lives and
properties are no longer safe in this locality. Many of us including
our children cannot sleep at night anymore following the heavy gun
shooting from the opposing gang members. We are now at the mercy of
these warring youths.

“We call on the
government of the day to do something as a matter of urgency to address
the situation in Ekpan community before it gets out of hands. We can no
longer continue to live in the land of lawlessness and chaos as if
there is no government in this country,” he stated.

The Divisional
Police Officer (DPO) in the area, Muazu Mohammed, confirmed the
incident, but said it was only one person that was killed, adding that
officers had been drafted to the area to maintain law and order.

According to him,
“We have deployed our anti-terrorist team to the area and they have
been positioned at strategic locations. We are very optimistic that our
men will be able to curb the crisis with the hope of bringing normalcy
to the area.”

Women protest

Meanwhile, over 50
women yesterday took to the streets of Ekpan accusing a prominent
leader of the area, Newton Akpofodor of being the brain behind the
perennial violent clashes in the community.

The women who sang
war songs in Uvwie language, appealed to the Federal Government to take
over the matter, calling for the arrest of Mr Akpofodor as the only way
peace could return to the community.

The traditional
ruler of Uvwie, Emmanuel Sideso, at the weekend, expressed dismay over
the crisis which has bedevilled the community, accusing the Council
Chairman, Peter Abugewa, and Mr Akpofodor, of fanning the embers of
violence in the area.

He noted that the
major reason they were arming the youths was because they wanted their
businesses to be protected, warning that such untoward actions were not
good for peace and security as well as the overall development of the
area.

He bemoaned the general insecurity in the community as a result of the periodic crisis masterminded by them.

The monarch noted
that “Security is a problem in my Kingdom. When I was enthroned I
established palace security to complement the efforts of the local
government and we have been working very hard. I want change and
improvement. Some of the problems are traceable to the key people who
have loyalists to protect their interests. “

“What is happening is criminal. When they are arrested, you find out they are released immediately.”

The People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and incumbent governor, Theodore
Ahamefula Orji, was yesterday declared the winner of the Abia
governorship election. The PDP also won all 24 seats in the state House
of Assembly.

Mr Orji emerged as
the winner having polled 641,158 votes to beat 19 other contestants.
Reagan Ufomber of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) came a
distant second with 49,421 votes and Chris Akomas of the PPA got 43,778
votes.

The chief
returning officer for the state and vice chancellor of the
Umudike-based Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Hilary Edoga,
said he had certified the results collated in the various local
governments and that Mr Orji won the elections conducted on Tuesday.

The result, which
showed that none of the opposition candidates won 25 percent of the
votes cast, even in their home constituencies, was rejected by the
oppositions’ agents who refused to sign, saying there was no election
in the state.

The deputy
director of campaigns for the ACN, Eke Igwe, said the election was a
sham. He said the PDP collaborated with security operatives to chase
away voters and carried away ballot papers to thumbprint them in their
private houses before bringing them to the units.

The chairman of
the APGA in Isiala Ngwa North, Godwin Ibendiogwu said that in some
units in Nbawsi, the party’s agents were beaten up and the materials
carried away. He described the whole exercise as a sham.

Reacting to Mr
Orji’s victory, the state commissioner for information and strategy,
A.C.B. Agbazuere said the Abia electorate has, by voting overwhelmingly
for the governor, demonstrated their gratitude to him for bringing them
out of bondage and delivering democracy dividends to the people.

In the rescheduled national assembly election in Isiala Ngwa north
and south federal constituencies, Chinenye Ike of the PDP was also
declared winner.

The Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday evening released the
full result of the House of Assembly election in Edo State, with the
exception of the result from Igueben where a re-run in two polling
units has been fixed for Thursday, April 28, due to reported cases of
violence.

The results, signed
by the administrative secretary of the commission in the state, Gilbert
Okolocha, shows that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won 19 of the
24 seats.

The ruling party in
the state won the 6 seats in Edo North, the 10 in Edo South, and one
out of the six in Edo Central with that of Igueben, the sixth in Edo
Central, pending until after today’s re-run.

Akoko-Edo
constituency I, ACN won with 13,483 votes, ANPP 03, LP 05, PDP 6,939.
Akoko-Edo II, ACN 21,005, LP 25, PDP 7,518. In Egor, ACN’s Paul
Ohombamu scored 12,212, PDP’s Erigbe Blessing polled 4,079, ANPP 48,
AGPA 06.

In Esan Central,
ACN 8,578, ANPP 10, PDP 10,926. Esan North East I, ACN 3,324, ANPP 08,
CPC 03, LP 32, PDP 7,839. Esan North East II, PDP 9,292, ACN 529. Esan
South East, ACN 12,659, ANPP 07, PDP 11,785. Esan West, ACN 11,119, PDP
15,602. Etsako Central, ACN 14,156, CPC 95, PDP 5,949. Etsako East, ACN
19,653, ANPP 20, CPC 61, LP 117, PDP 7,845.

Others are: Etsako
West I, ACN 10,092, ANPP 05, CPC 57, LP 3,062, PDP 3,561. Etsako West
II, ACN 18,043, LP 2,552, PDP 1,118, CPC 97. IKPOBA OKHA, ACN 26,796,
PDP 5146. Oredo East, ACN 14,311, ANPP 46, APGA 07, LP 716, PDP 3,318,
PPP 363.

ACN also took the
lead in Edo South senatorial district in the following order: Oredo
West, ACN 12,503, ANPP 101, APGA 18, LP 139, PDP 3,364. Orhionmwon I,
ACN 9,517, ANPP 20, LP 65, PDP 5,376. Orhionmwon II, ACN 9,354, CPC 20,
LP 232, PDP 3,557. Ovia North East I, ACN 9,354, CPC 20, LP 232, PDP
3,557. Ovia North East II, ACN 8,186, ANPP 389, LP 642, PDP 2,481. Ovia
South West, ACN 14,231, PDP 9,751. Owan East, ACN 24,640, ANPP 11, CPC
27, PDP 10,561. Owan West, ACN 11,407, ANPP 47, LP 86, PDP 8,437.
UHUNWONDE, ACN 11,525, LP 08, PDP 6,608, PPP 879.

Meanwhile, the
incumbent Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Bright Omokhodion,
has rejected the result of the election of Esan West constituency as
announced by INEC. According to the result, Mr Omokhodion lost his
re-election bid into the House of Assembly to Monday Orhue of the PDP.

In a press
statement yesterday, Mr Omokhodion alleged that the PDP officials
hijacked and massively rigged the election in favour of their
candidate. He cited “multiple thumb-printing” and the conversion of PDP
officials’ houses into “election voting centres” as reasons for his
rejection of the result declared by INEC. He has indicated his interest
to contest the result at election petition tribunal.

There was wild
jubilation at the Ekiti State Government House yesterday as the state
governor, Kayode Fayemi and members of his cabinet celebrated the
party’s victory in the National Assembly and House of Assembly
elections.

The Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) swept three senatorial seats, six House of
Representatives and 24 out of the 26 state House of Assembly seats in
Tuesday’s polls, according to results announced by INEC.

However, the opposition Labour Party and People’s Democratic Party have rejected the results.

Ayodele Fayose, LP
candidate for Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said in a statement
that the election was characterised by open financial inducement of
voters and all other malpractices. He said such action contravened the
provision of the Electoral Act 2011.

Also, the PDP
Director of Communications, Jackson Adebayo alleged that members of the
ACN intimidated their members and induced the electorate as well. Mr
Adebayo urged the electoral body to investigate cases of
ballot-snatching and intimidation of voters that were witnessed on the
day of the elections across the state.

Babafemi Ojudu,
who is now the senator-elect in Ekiti Central, polled a total vote of
67,747 to defeat the former governor of the State, Ayodele Fayose of
the Labour Party and Kayode Alufa of the PDP, who polled 29,773 and
28,488 respectively.

A sweep by the ACN

Bunmi Adetumbi of
the ACN, who is now the senator-elect in Ekiti North, polled 58,568 to
defeat the incumbent, Ayo Arise of the PDP and Segun Akinwumi of the
LP, who recorded 38,422 and 2,055 respectively.

Tony Adeniyi of
the ACN polled 70,360 to defeat another incumbent PDP Senator, Sola
Akinyede and Biodun Fasakin of the LP, who polled 43,537 and 3,623
respectively in Ekiti South Senatorial District of the State The House
of Representatives-elect are: Opeyemi Bamidele in Ekiti Central Federal
Constituency 1; Ojo Oyetunde, Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2;
Bamidele Faparusi, Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2; Ife Arowosoge,
Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1. Robinson Ajiboye and Bimbo Daramola
win in Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2 and 1 respectively.

Congratulations

However, Mr Arise
has congratulated Mr Adetumbi over his victory in the election, calling
on him to impact positively on the lives of his constituents. Mr Arise,
in a statement he personally sent to the Senator-elect at about 11.13pm
on Tuesday, said he had accepted the result of the election.

“I have done creditably well and I don’t need to be afraid of my
future in the politics of this state,” he said. “I believe this is the
will of God for now and every mortal must abide by it. I remain
committed to serving Ekiti at any level and I wish the new person the
very best in his future endeavour.”

Following the
inauguration of the Local Government Creation Committee by the Ondo
State government, some stakeholders in the state have urged the
committee to expedite action on the assignment.

The committee is
expected to complete its assignment in two months. Some individuals
have argued that the creation of councils in the state is belated. They
maintain that the state deserves more than the 18 councils it currently
has.

Jimoh Abu of the
Action Congress of Nigeria and Sunday Afelumo of the Labour Party said
northern states had benefited from council creation at the expense of
the South West states.

Mr Afelumo, who is
the caretaker chairman of Akoko North East, said creation of more
councils in Ondo State would bring rapid development to the grassroots.

He said, “Creation
of local councils is long overdue in Ondo State. It is sad that some
states in the north have more local governments than we in the South
West.

“Some councils
which are not up to a local government have been divided to two or
three councils. Kano is a good example of this. I think the decision of
the state government to create new councils is a welcome development.

“Our council, Akoko
North East can be divided into three different councils because of its
largeness. If the council can be divided into three, it will bring
rapid development to the grassroots”.

Mr Afelumo added
that the idea of local government creation being proposed by the state
government should be supported by all the indigenes of the state
without party affiliation

“This is not a party issue; it is an issue that has to do with the
development of the state. Every political party including those in the
opposition should back the idea,” he added.

Former minister of
information and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA), Dora Akunyili, has described the Anambra Central senatorial
district election won by Chris Ngige as marred by violence,
intimidation and malpractices.

The Independent
National Electoral Commission, yesterday, announced Mr. Ngige the
winner of the rerun with a total of 69,765 against Mr Akunyili’s
69,292. But the former minister and her party in separate media
interviews yesterday picked holes in the election with the party
hinting it could contest the results in court.

According to Mrs
Akunyili, her agents suffered intimidation and molestation in such
areas as Nkpor and Enugwu Ukwu with some of them even being chased away
and forced to hide their tags to evade identification. In other cases
she said the real voters were disenfranchised to enable fake voters to
come and vote for ACN and noted that despite that, Mr Ngige’s victory
margin was low.

“I’m appalled by
the level of violence and thuggery and feel more pained by that than my
not being declared winner,” Mrs Akunyili said. She said she complained
to the state governor, Peter Obi, who chose the option of following due
process.

Mrs Akunyili,
however, said she harbours no bitterness and will continue to work for
the good of Nigeria and Anambra State as, according to her, she
believes in President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Obi and the INEC chairman
Attahiru Jega.

She said INEC did a credible job but could not have been everywhere at the same time.

“I wish everybody luck and God’s choicest blessings,” she said.

She said she will
consult with Mr Obi, her supporters and family on the next step to take
but refused to congratulate Mr. Ngige saying he did not win in a fair
manner.

Set for court

Meanwhile in an
earlier press briefing, the state chairman of the APGA Mike Kwentoh
said the party would take all necessary steps to seek legal redress.

“In our
characteristic manner which is in tandem with the disposition of the
governor we call on all APGA supporters to remain calm and law abiding.
We shall seek every necessary redress through due process,” Mr Kwentoh
said.

Meanwhile the
victorious candidate, Mr Ngige yesterday received a group of youth
corps members from Anambra State who fled for safety from their areas
of primary assignment in various parts of the North.

While assuring them of his concern for their plight, Mr Ngige
thanked the people of the state for their support which helped him to
win his first ever election. He promised to be responsive to their
needs as a senator.

The People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has won the re-scheduled
senatorial elections for the south and central senatorial districts as
senate deputy leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba got his third term mandate with
a comfortable 143,537 as against 47,856 recorded by his main
challenger, Patrick Iwara of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Similarly, a
member of the House of Representatives, Bassey Otu got promoted to the
upper chamber of the National Assembly when he defeated Eyo Etim Nyong
with a wide margin in Cross River South senatorial district. Mr
Ndoma-Egba won in the Central senatorial district, while Ben Ayade of
the PDP had earlier captured the northern senatorial district.

For the state
House of Assembly result, the PDP won 15 of the 25 seats which results
were announced as at yesterday evening by their returning officers and
is likely to win the remaining 10.

Result breakdown

Results released
showed the PDP won in Biase, Abi, Obanliku, Akpabuyo, Bekwarra, Ogoja,
Obubra 1, Yakurr 1, odukpani, Calabar South 1 and 2, Yala 1 and 2 and
Akamkpa 1 and 2 state constituencies.

The party in Biase
dusted the ACN candidate and serving member of the House Obo Mkpanam,
as he could only garner 5,468 votes. Ikpe Bassey Ikpe of the All
Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), got 3030; Ikenga Amang of Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC) 1393 votes; while Okpo Ngim Kanu of the PDP
won with 25,157 votes. The PDP candidate in Abi, Lebo John Gaul won
with 26,278, Isu Emori Ikwa of CPC scored 71 while the ANPP candidate,
Parton Echeng got 249 votes. It was also the same success story for the
PDP candidate in Obanliku state constituency. Ucheche Moses Ushie was
declared winner with 10,334, leaving behind Evey Maurice, Wayas the
ANPP former Speaker in the state, who got 3,418 under the umbrella of
ANPP and Taurus Godwin Akpah of ACN with 1,658.

The incumbent
lawmaker representing Akpabuyo, Effiom Etim Okon of PDP scored 7733;
Okon Nyong Effiom, ACN, 1666. For Bekwara state constituency, the PDP
candidate, Agaji Idagu Ajor, won with 24,978 votes beating Eneji Ogar
Chris of the ACN who got 2021, and Abua Ebeyin Atabuch of LP, 320.

The representative
for Ogoja constituency in the assembly, Patrick Uguge of the PDP
retained his position with 15,723 votes followed by Ayim Simon Okpokam
of the ANPP who got 4829 while John Ogon of CPC scored 131.

In Obubra 11
constituency, Moses Ono of PDP was re-elected with 16,129 votes and his
opponent, Monday Lawrence of the ACN scored 2876. In Yakurr 1, Mfawa
Ofegobi of the PDP was returned with 9163, Otu Bassey of ACN got 7244
votes and the LP candidate Ofem Wokasor scored 705 votes.

The PDP candidate
for Odukpani Ekpenyong Wilson got 15025, Asuquo Ekpo Ada of the ACN got
4317 and Kingsley Ndem Prince of the ANPP scored 233. Okon Edem Ephraim
of PDP emerged winner in Calabar South 1 with 8398, Gabriel Bassey of
the ANPP 3461, while in Calabar South 11, Joseph Archibong of the PDP
scored 9469, Ekong Iwatt Effiom ACN, 1536, Ekpenyong Ene Cobham of
ANPP, 1096.

Odey Okori of PDP
won with 13,572 votes in Yala 1, Alphonsus O.E, of ANPP got 6754 and
Ariku Donald of ACN, 594 and in Yala 11, Mr. Lukpata Ogana Nicholas of
PDP won with 14,156, Benedict Lukpata 898 and Unah Rosemary of ACN, got
373.

For Akamkpa 1
state constituency, Iyaya Asuquo Nyong of the PDP scored 14,302 votes
to beat Paul Moses Ntui of ACN, 789 and Joseph affiong of ANPP got nine
votes. For Akamkpa 11, O’ben-E George of PDP got 5,319 votes, Celestine
Awor of ANPP, 1,402 and Enyam James Okon of ACN, 333.

The Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the
governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
Ibikunle Oyelaja Amosun as the winner of the governorship election in
Ogun State.

The Returning
Officer of INEC in the state, Olufemi Balogun said the ACN candidate
scored 377,487 votes to win the contest. His two other major
competitors, Tunji Olurin of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) polled
188,698 while the candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Gboyega
Nasir Isiaka scored 137,051.

Mr Amosun said his victory marked a watershed in the history of the state.

“I accept the
mandate freely given to me at the polls with profound humility, a sense
of responsibility and gratitude to God Almighty and all the good people
of Ogun State,” he said. “The victory is neither for me nor our great
party alone. It is indeed a victory for our state and our people for
their steadfastness and peaceful conduct before and during elections.

“I salute and
extend hands of fellowship to my fellow candidates, particularly my
elder brother, Tunji Olurin and my brother, Gboyega Isiaka and their
respective parties for their gallantry and statesmanship. It is time to
move from politicking and bickering to rapprochement and rebuilding of
our state,” he said.

The announcement
of Mr Amosun as the next governor attracted wild jubilation across the
state, as party supporters and residents trooped out in large numbers
armed with brooms, the symbol of the ACN, to celebrate his victory in
the major streets of the town.

Congratulatory messages

The out-going
governor, Gbenga Daniel in a congratulatory message to his successor,
said “Amosun’s victory actualises the yearning of the people of Ogun
State for change of political platform in the governance of the state.”
Mr Daniel, in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information
and Orientation, Sina Kawonise also congratulated candidates of the
three parties, ACN, PPN and PDP. The candidate of the PPN, Gboyega
Isiaka also sent a congratulatory message to the governor-elect.

“The challenge to
move Ogun State forward brought all of us into this battle, a winner
must emerge and he has won. For me, politics is just a vehicle to serve
the people and make society better; it is not a do-or-die affair,” he
said. “The wish of the people must be respected and they have spoken
with their votes. I wish Amosun well in the tasking job of making Ogun
State greater than he met it.” Former Ogun State governor and leader of
ACN, Olusegun Osoba described the victory of his party as a clear
testimony that he (Mr Osoba) had been vindicated, just as he added that
he would not interfere in the new administration.

“Politically, God
has vindicated Olusegun Osoba. I cannot ask for anything more from God.
I can assure you that the governor will have the freedom to perform his
functions within the party’s context. There will be no dictation from
anybody. I have no intention of interfering or sitting on the neck of
Mr Amosun,” he said.

The Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared Abdulfatah
Ahmed, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, the
winner of the governorship elections in Kwara State.

Mr Ahmed,
currently the state finance commissioner, polled 254,969 votes winning
50.58 percent of the 504,102 valid votes cast. He defeated 15 other
contestants including Gbemisola Saraki, sister of the incumbent
governor, Bukola Saraki. His closest rival, Dele Belgore, of the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) scored 152,580 votes, scoring 25 percent of
the total votes in eight local government areas. Mr Ahmed fulfilled the
25 percent requirement across the 16 local government areas of the
state.

Ms Saraki of the
Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) scored 72,456 votes winning 25
percent of the votes in two local government areas of the state.

Displeased with result

However, expressing
displeasure with the results, the agents of the ACPN and ACN at the
collation centre unlike other party agents, refused to sign the result
sheet. Abdulmumini Anafi, the ACN agent at the collation centre,
claimed that the process was marred with series of malpractices and
intimidation and that the party will contest it at the tribunal.

“We have records
of all these and apart from that, so much multiple voting took place
and there were a lot of places where voters were scared away from
voting, they did not come out. They created so much fear to
disenfranchise them,” he said, claiming that the party will at the
appropriate time make known its official position.

Though the House
of Assembly results were announced at their various constituencies, the
State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Timothy Ibitoye announced that
PDP won 22 out of the 24 Assembly seats.