Governors Abiodun, Sanwoolu, Yahaya retain seat as APC clinches eight states

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced the announcement of final results after Saturday’s governorship election in 28 States of the Federation.

The results announced by the electoral umpire has generated protests from the losing political parties.

The outcome of the polls shows that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, expanded its dominance in the country. The party has now added Sokoto to its fold.

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) the winners of Saturday’s governorship election.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno; Dr Dikko Radda of the Katsina State All Progressives Congress and his counterpart in Jigawa State, Namadi Dammodi, emerged as the governors-elect.

The APC candidate in the Sokoto State governorship election, Ahmad Sokoto, similarly emerged as the governor-elect in the state, while Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum was set for victory having won the 22 local government areas declared so far in the state on Sunday.

There were also strong indications that the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, would be re-elected as he emerged victorious in 14 out of the 19 LGAs results declared as of 10.21 pm on Sunday, while his closest rival, Sadique Abubakar of the APC won five local government areas.

Oyo State: Governor Seyi Makinde was reelected for a second term in office after winning in all the 33 local government areas of the state.The PDP governor scored a total of 563,756 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin who scored 256,685 votes.

Sokoto: In far away Sokoto States, Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has displaced the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after several years. In what is considered one of the major upsets, Aliyu polled 453, 661 to defeat PDP’s Saidu Umar who scored 404, 632 votes.

Yobe: The APC recorded another victory in the Northern State as incumbent Gov Mai Mala Buni was announced as the winner of the election. Buni polled 317,113 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Alhaji Sherif Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 124,259 votes.

Kwara: The ruling party, APC has also retained Kwara State. Efforts by former governor Bukola Saraki to return the PDP to power failed. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulrmRazaq polled 226,956 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Alhaji Shuabu Yaman, who scored 123,118 votes. The APC beat the PDP in all the local government areas of the state.

Gombe: Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has also won his second term in office. Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 342, 821 votes to defeat his closest rival Mr Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 233, 131 votes.

Jigawa: In Jigawa, the APC has produced a governor-elect in the person of Umar Namadi Dammodi. He scored the high votes of 618,449 to defeat the PDP candidate, Lamido Mustapha Sule who scored 368,726. Dammodi takes over from Governor Badaru Abubakar.

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Akwa Ibom: Governor Udom Emmanuel has succeeded in having his chosen successor elected. Mr Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), survived stiff opposition from the Young Peoples Party, YPP, to retain the state for his party. Eno won in 29 out of 31 local government areas of the state to defeat Sen. Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). He scored 354,348 votes, while Akpan of the YPP got 136,262 votes.

Katsina: The APC has also retained President Muhammdu Buhari’s home State, Katsina. Former SMEDAN Director General and APC governorship candidate, Dr Dikko Umar Radda emerged winner with 859,892 votes, while Yakubu Lado (PDP) scored 486,620 votes.

Lagos State: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been declared the winner of the governorship election in Lagos State. The incumbent Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, polled a total of 762,134 to defeat first runner-up, Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who secured 312,329 votes, while Abdulazeez Adeniran of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got 62,449 votes. The Labour Party, however, insists it won the election.

Ogun State: Governor Abiodun secured a second term in office after polling 276,298 votes to defeat his PDP opponent, Oladipupo Adebutu, who scored 262,383 votes and 12 other candidates. The returning officer of the governorship election in Ogun State, Prof. Kayode Adebowale declared Abiodun at the collation centre of the commission in the state. According to him, the total number of registered voters 2,688,305, while accredited voters were 666,406. Adebowale said a total of 645,133 votes were valid while 18,835 votes were rejected out of the 663,968 total votes cast.

Collation and final declaration are yet to be concluded in several states including Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Delta, Borno, Cross River, Kano, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara.