Delta: Okowa In Early Lead, Set To Win

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, (THEWILL) – The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, is already in early lead and is coasting home to victory as results of Saturday's election are being announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Already, out of the results from 11 councils out of the 25 councils in the state released by INEC, Okowa has boxed Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party and Olorogun O'tega Emerhor of the All Progressive Congress to a corner, winning in 10 councils to maintain a wide margin lead.

According to the result announced by the INEC state Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Bio Nyananyo, Okowa had a landslide victory in his council area of Ika North East where he polled 72,612 votes.

He also got overwhelming votes from Oshimili South and Oshimili North believed to be his stronghold in Delta north senatorial district of the state.

Okowa has so far won three councils in Delta Central Senatorial District, populated by the Urhobos.

The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, who had protested the votes from Ika North East and Oshimili South councils also had overwhelming votes in Udu local government area, which is believed to be his stronghold.

The results announced by INEC are as follows:
Sapele – PDP 13,837; APC 3,627; LP 7,848,
Ethiope West – PDP 31,890; APC 2,329; LP 1,678
Oshimili South – PDP 47,938, APC 1,253; LP 1,218
Bomadi – PDP 51,974; APC 594; LP 594
Isoko North – 44,209, APC 4502; LP 3,661
Ika North East – APC 340, LP 66, PDP 72612
Patani – APC 771, LP 684, PDP 16421
Udu – APC 3369, LP 15857, PDP 6097
Oshimili North – PDP 19,368; APC 978; LP; 505
Isoko South – PDP 30,355; APC 10,054; LP 4,023
Okpe – PDP 12,165; APC 3,706, LP 7,728.
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer has adjourned further collation to 6pm as the results from 14 council areas were still being awaited as at the time of filing in this report.