Imo state Governor-Elect, Emeka Ihedioha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Darius Ishaku and Emeka Ihedioha  as winners of last Saturday’s governorship elections in Taraba and Imo states respectively.

Announcing the results of the Taraba State Governorship polls at the INEC office in Jalingo on Tuesday morning, the Returning Officer for the election, Shehu Iya said Mr. Ishiaku, who is the incumbent governor was the winner having satisfied the requirements of the law.

 Iya, a Professor at the Modibo Adama University, Yola announced that the PDP candidate scored a total of 520, 433 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Sani Danladi polled 362, 735 across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

According to the breakdown of the results, the PDP which has never lost a governorship election in the state since 1999 won 12 LGAs while the APC claimed victory in the remaining four LGAs.

PDP’s biggest win margin was recorded in Wukari LGA where the party polled a total of 92,527 while the APC had 34,995 votes. The party also had a good outing in Takum LGA where Ishaku hails from, polling 50,562 votes against APC’s 14,014.

The APC’s biggest win was in Jalingo LGA where the party got 58,511 votes as compared to the PDP’s 31,917

In Imo State, the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha polled 273,404 votes to defeat 69 other candidates including his closest rival, Uche Nwosu of Action Alliance (AA) who scored 190,364 votes.

Announcing the results at the INEC office in Owerri on Monday night, the State Returning Officer, Prof. Francis Otunta said the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume polled 114,676 votes.

He said the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodimma scored 96,458 votes while the Accord Party candidate and former governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim secured 6,864 votes.

Declaring Ihedioha the winner of the polls, Prof. Otunta said: “I, Francis Otunta hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Imo state elections. Ihedioha Emeka of PDP, having satisfied the constitutional requirements is hereby declared the winner.”