By Amauche Agbo, Abakaliki
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Barr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru winner of the March 18 governorship election in Ebonyi state.
Declaring the result at the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) State Headquarters in Abakaliki on Monday, the State Residential Electoral Commissioner, Professor Charles Igwe, said Barr. Nwifuru polled a total of 199,131 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dr feanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got a total of 80,191 votes to place second.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), candidate Professor Bernard Odoh, came third with 52,189 votes.
According to him: “I, Professor Charles Igwe, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer of the governorship election held on 18th March 2023 in Ebonyi State.
“That Francis Nwifuru of the APC having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner and is returned elected,” he said
Mr Igwe, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, said the total valid votes was 342,554 while 7,387 votes were rejected; bringing the total votes cast for the election to 349,941.
See the final results below:
Registered voters- 1597646
Accredited 350345
AA 554
ADC 673
ADP 578
APC 199131
APGA 52189
APM 206
APP 99
LP 6793
NNPP 674
NRM 310
PDP 80191
SDP 126
YPP 280
TOTAL VALID VOTES: 342554
REJECTED VOTES: 7387
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 349941