The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Nyesom Wike, who is also the incumbent governor of Rivers State has defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the African Action Congress, Biokpomabo Awara.
Wike polled 888,264 votes to beat the candidate of the AAC who polled 137,859 votes.
INEC’s collation officer for the governorship election, Prof. Teddy Adias, on Wednesday, declared the PDP candidate winner having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes.
Adias declared the total margin of between the two contestants as 712,405.
He said the total number of registered voters was 3,048,741, accredited voters 1,130,445, valid votes cast 1,102,823, total votes cast=1,123,840 and voided votes, 249,324.
He said, “I, this day, confirm again, that I am the collation officer for the elections and that Nyesom Wike of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, has scored the highest number of votes and is hereby declared winner and returned elected.
“The winner, with the highest votes, scored 886,264 and the second scored 173,859. The margin of lead with these votes stands at 712,405. A total number of registered voters in area where elections did not hold or cancelled stands at 249,324.”
The governor won in 19 local government areas out of the 21 that was declared while Awara won in two LGAs; Akuku-Toru (his native area) and Oyigbo LGA.
Wike showed an overwhelming strength in his Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where he polled 281,161 votes, while Awara scored only 7,495 votes.
The incumbent governor also recorded high votes in Andoni, the local government area of Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of the PDP.
Surprisingly, Wike also won in Ikwerre, the native home of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Chukwunenye Kocha, the AAC party agent said that the party would study the results before taking any decision.