LAGOS, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s main opposition party has retained control of the key oil-producing state of Rivers, according to official results from a vote marred by violence and delay.
Incumbent governor Nyesom Wike, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was re-elected for a second term after winning 886,264 votes.
His nearest rival, Biokpomabo Awara, of the African Alliance Congress (AAC), polled 173,859 votes, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said.
Awara — a relative unknown — was backed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), which was unable to field candidates due to a court ruling.
Wike dedicated his victory to people from the state “killed in defence of democracy”, adding on Twitter: “They came with everything to destabilise us but we conquered.”
The governorship election was held on March 9, two weeks after Buhari clinched a second term of office in a vote that beaten PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar has disputed and is challenging. — NNN-AGENCIES
