PDP SUSTAINS LEAD AS INEC RELEASES MORE RESULTS

MORE results of the last Saturday's National Assembly Elections have been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recording better performance as the opposition continues to spring surprises.

AKWA IBOM
The PDP has won the two senatorial seats in the National Assembly election held in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday. According to NAN, the election was not conducted in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District as well as in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the state.

Announcing the results on Sunday in Uyo, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs Maria Owi said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Aloysius Etok, was re-elected for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. He polled 383,607 votes to defeat the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Mr. Joe Ukpong, who scored 11,827 votes.

The other candidates in the election were Mr. Current Emmanuel of ANPP, who polled 807 votes, Alex Uben of the Labour Party with 1,437 votes and Mr. Ani Asikpo of CPC who scored 917 votes.

In Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, a former Minister of State for Health and later Environment, Mrs Helen Esuene of the PDP polled 208,197 votes to defeat her closest rival, Mr. Umoetuk Akpasam of ACN with 14,476 votes. Others in the senatorial race were Mr. Andy Effiong of CPC who got 5,638 votes and Mr. Victor Abang of ANPP with 2,407 votes.

The PDP also won seven of the eight federal constituency seats which have been announced.

In the Eket Federal Constituency, the PDP, which featured Mr. Bassey Dan Abia, won with 83,266 votes while Mr. Dan Akpan of the party also won in Etinan, with 30,576 votes. In Oron, Mr. Robinson Uwak of the PDP won with 62,433 votes; Prof. Ini Udoka of the PDP was re-elected in Ikono/Ini with 36, 459 votes while in the Abak Federal Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Ekong was elected with 101,274 votes.

In Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Mr, Saviour Udoh of the PDP won with 142,210 votes while the people of Itu/Ibiono-Ibom elected Mr. Kenneth Archibong of the PDP with 38,253 votes.

In Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency, Sylvester Udo Iwok ACN scored 2769; Mary Asuquo N. of ADC 127; Udoh Sam Umoatan of ANPP 3676; Godwin Udo King of APGA 433; Abang Patience Sunday of LP 131; Sampson Friday Uruang of NNPP 151; Ubong M. Akpo PAC 183; Akpan Micah Umoh of PDP 54, 179.

The Results were announced by Edwin Enabor, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Akwa Ibom State.

In the Uyo Federal Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Ekpenyong of the ACN won with 41,436 votes while his closest rival from the PDP, Mr. Ekere Afia, scored 32,979 votes. Mr. Emmanuel Obot of the Labour Party scored 8,352 votes in the constituency while Mr. Henry Bassey of ANPP scored 1,706 votes. Other contestants in the race were Mr. Joseph Okon of PAC, who scored 1,113 votes and Mr. Inyang Obot of ADC who got 1,534 votes.

ADAMAWA
In Adamawa State, the PDP has clinched two of the three senatorial seats.

Results released by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Kassim Gaidam, on Sunday showed that Alhaji Bindo Jibirilla won the Adamawa North Senatorial district with 75,112 votes. He defeated his closest rival and former governor of Adamawa, Mr. Boni Haruna of ACN, who scored 70,890 votes while Malam Abba Muhammed of CPC got 22,866 votes.

According to NAN, in Adamawa Central, Alhaji Bello Tukur of the PDP won with 95,806 votes, followed by Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo of the Labour Party with 78,424 votes. The only female senatorial candidate in the state, Mrs Fati Balla of ACN, pulled 63,271 votes. The result of Adamawa South Senatorial District is still being awaited.

The PDP also won four of the eight House of Representative seats the results of which have so far been released in the state.

They include the Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Constituency where the incumbent, Anthony Madwatte, retained his seat with 28,481 votes. He defeated Mr. Piton Power of the ACN who scored 25,224 votes and Macualay Hunohashi of NTP who got 11,406 votes. Aminu Hamman of the PDP retained the Fufore/Song Constituency with 31,349 votes to defeat Ibrahim Abdul Mumini of the Labour Party and Bello Abubakar of ACN who got 22,157 and 11,894 votes in that order.

Gibson Nathaniel of the PDP won in Guyuk/Shelleng Constituency with 18,961 votes. He defeated Mr Shem Dimas of the Labour Party who scored 15,246 and the incumbent, Jim Audu of ACN who lost with 10,911 votes.

A female candidate, Aishatu Dahiru of the PDP, won the Yola North/Yola South/Girei Constituency with 47,473 votes to defeat Ibrahim Babayola of the Labour Party who got 27,437 and Mustapha Salihu of CPC who polled 26,271 votes. The incumbent, Saad Tahir of the ANPP scored 9,329 votes.

Haske Hananiya of the ACN scored 34,529 to emerge winner in the Gombi/Hong Constituency where he defeated the incumbent, Emmanuel Bello of the PDP, who scored 18,070 and Abdurrasheed Z.H. of the CPC who polled 11,295 votes.

In Michika/Madagali Constituency,  Ganama Titsi of ACN scored 36,033 votes to defeat the incumbent female representative, Binta Masi of PDP, who got 24,520 votes.

In Mubi North/Mubi South/Maiha Constituency, the incumbent, Abubakar Wambai, who defected to the CPC from PDP after loosing in the primaries, emerged winner with 16,475 votes. He defeated Gidado Sajoh  of the PDP and Shehu Dahiru of the ACN who got 11,026 votes and 9,297 votes in that order. Results from Mayo-Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo Constituency are still pending.

ZAMFARA
In Zamfara State, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has won two senatorial seats and three federal House of representatives seats while the ruling PDP won one senatorial seat and one House of Representatives slot.

Former governor of the state, Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima of ANPP was re-elected, defeating his PDP rival and former governor of old Sokoto State, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim in Zamfara West senatorial zone with 154,359 against 148,874 votes.

The Returning Officer for the Zone,  Prof. Ja'afar Makau Kaura of the Usman Danfodio Univerisity, Sokoto announced the result yesterday at Talata Mafara.

Muhammad Bello of the PDP was winner of the Bakura/Maradun federal constituency with 54,425 votes, defeating ANPP's Alhaji Sanusi Aliyu Maradun who scored 42,144 votes. Sani Takori of the PDP for Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency lost his seat to the ANPP's Alhaji Muazu Lawal Birnin Tudu with 51,803 against 45,292 votes.

Kabiru Garba Marafa of the ANPP won the Zamfara Central Senatorial Zone, defeating the incumbent PDP's Senator Hassan Mohammed Nasiha Gusau.

Announcing the result, INEC Returning Officer for Zamfara Central Senatorial Zone, , Prof. Chika Umar Aliyu of the Department of Economics, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto said Marafa polled 208,222 votes to defeat Nasiha of the PDP who scored 111,386 votes. Breakdown of the results in the four local councils in Zamfara Central senatorial Zone is as follows: Gusau Local Council, ANPP {83,020 votes}, PDP {45,103}; Tsafe Local Council, ANPP {41,034}, PDP {24,726}; Maru Local Council, ANPP {29,315}, PDP 18,725; and Bungudu Local Council, ANPP {54,853}, PDP {22,832].

The only House of Representatives election held out of the two Federal Constituencies in the Zamfara Central was also won by Ibrahim Shehu Gusau of the ANPP who polled 129,832 votes to defeat incumbent Alhaji Idris Mohammed Keta of the PDP who polled 69,222 votes.

Alhaji Sani umar of the ANPP won Birnin Magaji/Kaura Namoda federal constituency, defeating the incumbent Dahiru Zubairu of PDP with 55,984 against  52,430 votes.

Senator Sahabi Ya'u was declared as the winner of the Zamfara West Senatorial zone after defeating his opponent of the ANPP, Alhaji Sani Tukur Kaura with 118,046 against 96,919 votes.

There was no election in three federal constituencies of Maru/Bungudu, Anka/Talata Mafara and Shinkafi/Zurmi. The election in the three federal constituencies was postponed to April 26,2011.

SOKOTO
The results announced in Sokoto State showed that the PDP won all the 11 federal constituencies and two senatorial seats.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal retained his Sokoto South Senatorial seat as he polled 112,585 votes to beat his closest rival, Muhammad Sani Dogondaji of the CPC who scored 36,682 votes.

First timer, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir won the Sokoto East Senatorial Seat with 138,397 votes against the 57,643 votes polled by Sadiq A. Gebe of the CPC. Among the first timers who won the House of Representatives election is the serving Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Abdullahi Balarabe Salame, who polled 37,783 votes to beat Musa Abdullahi of the CPC who polled 19,342 votes to clinch the Illela/ Gwadabawa Federal Constituency seat.

Another new comer is Abdullahi Muhammad Wamakko who polled 45,166 votes to beat Saidu Mohammad Gumburawa of the ACN who polled 19,852 votes to win the Kware/ Wamakko Federal Constituency. Gumburawa is the present occupant of the seat, but decamped to ACN after losing the PDP primaries to Wamakko.

Former Binji Council Chairman and ALGON State chairman, Alhaji Sa'ad Mohammed Nabunkari was elected representative for Binji/ Silame Federal Constituency. He scored 27,550 votes against the 12,186 votes scored by Mohammed M. Ajoge of the ACN.

Old members of the House of Representatives who retained their seats are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who won Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency with 35,586 votes against the 12,773 votes scored by Mohammmed Lema Abubakar of the CPC and Umar Mohammed Bature who retained his Sokoto North/ Sokoto South Federal Constituency with 68,223 votes to the 29,704 votes scored by Mainasara Abubakar Sani of the CPC.

Others who retained their seats are Isa Salihu Bashir (Tangaza/ Gudu) who scored 23,334 votes to beat Mohammed Sarkin Arewa of ACN who polled 9,482; Alhaji Aliyu A.A Shehu (Dange Shuni/ Bodinga/ Tureta) scored 46,247 votes against the 14,526 votes scored by Bello G Adamu of CPC and Aminu Shehu Shagari (Yabo/ Shagari) scored 30,214 votes as against the 11,987 votes scored by Aminu M Ganda of the CPC.

Other old timers who retained their seats are Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir who polled 36,703 to beat Mohammad Saidu Bargaja of the ACN who scored 22,870; Musa S. Adar (Goronyo/ Gada) polled 31,935 as against the 19,367 polled by Mohammad Bello Usman of the CPC and Kabiru Marafa Achida (Wurno/ Rabah) who scored 25,793 votes to beat Isa Sadiq Achida of the ACN who scored 16,607.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Alhaji Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta, who announced the summary of the results yesterday at a press conference said there was remarkable improvement in the conduct of the election over past polls but said there is still room for improvement.

BAYELSA
Amidst protest, INEC has released more result in Bayelsa State.  In the result announced by the Returning Officer in the controversial Bayelsa West, Senatorial zone, the PDP candidate Senator Heineken Lokpobiri was declared winner with 48,401 votes, LP 696, CPC 1085, JP 178 , APC 142, ANPP 1404, CAP 429 and PAC 118 votes.

For Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Seiraki Dickson of the PDP won by 50,300 votes while his closest rival, the Labour Party candidate got 3,600 votes.  Clever Ikisikpo of PDP won in President Jonathan's senatorial district, while Nadu Karibo also of PDP was elected to represent the president;s federal constituency.  In Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency the returning officer announced Henry Ofongo of the PDP emerging winner, ACN got 1,139, ADC 33, ANPP 402, APGA 151, APN 63, APS 53, CAP 203 and LP 4202. The total number of vote cast was 59,203.

In the Yenagoa/kolokuma/okpokuma federal constituency of the state, it was fight to finish. This is the home town and stronghold of Mr. Timi Alaibe, the Labour Party governorship candidate.

In the result announced by INEC, the PDP candidate who was declared winner got 19,500 votes while his Labour Party counterpart scored 17,200.

YOBE
The ruling ANPP in Yobe State has swept the three senatorial seats and five out of the six seats into the House of Representatives.

Announcing the results at the INEC headquarters, Damaturu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Sadiq Abubakar said that in the Yobe North Senatorial district, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim won with 115,763 votes, while his PDP opponent, Dr. Lawan Jalo Zarami scored 67,438 votes with Kale Kawu of the CPC polling 6,655 votes.

Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere of the ANPP defeated candidates of the PDP and CPC with the highest votes of 96,645 in the Yobe South Senatorial District. The PDP's Senator Adamu Talba and Aje Gwagwai Bale of CPC scored 79,891 and 6,659 votes.

In the Yobe North Senatorial District, Senator Ahmed Lawan of ANPP was declared winner after polling the highest votes of 92,799 while the CPC candidate, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai scored 9,673 votes with the PDP candidate, Hassan Kafayos Hussaini polling 76,960 votes.

In the Gaidam/Burtsari/Yunusari constituency, Goni Lawan of ANPP was declared winner after scoring the highest votes of 51,334, while Umar Audu of PDP and Bagana Ali of CPC scored 26,890 and 2,727 votes.

Khadija Bukar Abba of ANPP was declared winner for the Damaturu/Tarmuwa/Gujba/Gulani constituency with 69,368 votes. Ngurnoma Maidala of PDP and Bashir Bukar of CPC scored 34,525 and 3,907 votes in that order.

Bukar Machinama was declared winner for the Karasuwa/Machina/Nguru/YusufarFederal constituency by polling 68,635 votes, while his opponents in the PDP and CPC, Jibrin Maigari and Umar Bala Mohammed scored 43,033 and 2,589 votes.

Sama'ila Gadaka of the ANPP defeated the PDP and CPC candidates with the highest votes of 47,532. Baba Gishiwari and Hassan Abba scored 38,180 and 3,277 votes in that order.

The Nangere/Potiskum Federal constituency was won by the PDP candidate, Yakubu Mainasara scoring 45,527 votes. The ANPP candidate, Sani Musa Lawan and that of CPC, Musa Abba respectively polled 37,306 and 733 votes.

CROSS RIVER
Prof. Benedict Ayade of the PDP has been declared winner of the Northern Senatorial District election in Cross River State.

Ayade won after scoring 91, 123 votes. His closest rival, Patrick Agbe of the ACN polled 11, 056 votes as Ogbeche Richard of the ANPP and Joseph Bassey of DFPF scored 7,393 and 1, 721 respectively.

Election in the other two senatorial districts, Southern and Central, will take place on April 26.

BORNO
The ruling All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) has won eight of the 10 House of Representatives' seats and the Borno North Senatorial slot.

The senatorial seats for Borno South and Central District and two House of Representatives were won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Tukur Sa'ad, said PDP's Mohammed Ali Ndume won the elections with 146,403 to Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir of ANPP's 133,734.

In the Borno Central Senatorial District, Alhaji Ahmed Zannah of the PDP clinched the seat with 189,232 votes while Sheriff scored 120,377 votes. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate, Mohammed El-Nur Dongel got 83,849 votes.

The ANPP however won the Borno North Senatorial District. Sa'ad said: 'Of the six candidates that contested for the senatorial seats, incumbent Senator Maina Ma'aji Lawan scored the highest votes of 95,984 to beat the PDP's Aliyu Kyari and four other candidates of CPC, Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio (15,017), APS (1,133), PAC (1,242) and APGA (1,178).

For the 10 federal constituencies, the ANPP got eight while the PDP won the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere federal constituencies.

Adamu Mshelia of ANPP scored 32,231 to win Askira/Uba/Hawul federal constituency, while Nicholas Elijah of the PDP got 30,473.

In Bama/Ngala/Kala Balge federal constituency, ANPP's Abdulrahman Terab was declared the elected having scored the highest votes of 47,826. Usman Ibrahim of the PDP got 28,030 votes, Abba Kagu Alli Tela of CPC trailed with 7,127 votes.

Muktar Betara of the ANPP was declared the winner for the Biu/Kwaya Kusar/Shani/ Bayo federal constituency by scoring 49,892 votes to defeat Umar Kassim Ibrahim of the PDP, who polled 35,250 votes.

In the Dikwa/Mafa/Konduga federal constituency, the ANPP candidate, Mahmud Lawan Maina polled the highest votes of 37, 173 to defeat four other candidates of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ALP, APGA and CPC.

Peter Biye Gumtha of the ANPP won the Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok federal constituency by scoring 47,683, while Wakil Chibok of the PDP polled 47,516 votes to concede defeat to Gumtha.

The ANPP also won in Monguno/Nganzai/Marte federal constituency. Its candidate, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, was declared the winner with 24,201 votes thus beating the PDP's Dr. Abubakar Ali Kullima and others.

Alhaji Isa Bulama of the ANPP clinched the Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/Guzamala federal constituency with 37,472 votes to the PDP's Tijjani Goni Mohammed 14,794 votes, CPC Babagana Alhaji Goni 8,013 votes.

EDO
The final result of the National Assembly elections in Edo released by INEC placed the ACN on the lead. The party won two senatorial seats.

Senator Ehigie Uzamere (ACN) defeated Daisy Danjuma to retain the Edo South Senatorial District. He scored 135,346 votes as against 70,725 polled by Danjuma.

Danjuma represented the zone in the Senate between 2003 and 2007.

For the Ovia federal constituency, Mr. Isaac Osahon of the ACN, who scored 25,800 votes, defeated his PDP opponent, Charity Amayaewma, who had 17,659.

The result of the House of Representatives' seat in Akoko-Edo is still outstanding as the election is scheduled for April 26.