The tables have turned again in the Abia State governorship drama, with Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) toppling Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the vote count late last night.
Announcement of results had been suspended late in the evening following a dispute over returns from Ikpeazu’s Ngwa stronghold. As at that time, each of the two strong contenders had won six the 12 collated local government areas but with Ikpeazu garnering 127,456 votes as against 105,795 by Otti.
However, when the vote count resumed with the collation of the result from Aba South, Otti erased the deficit, winning with an astronomical 28,000 votes as against a mere 4,000 by Ikpeazu to put him ahead with a total 134,000 votes as against 132,000 for Ikpeazu.
Results from Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North, Ohafia and Ikwuano local governments are still pending.
News Express had last night projected that Otti would sweep Aba South (which has now happened) and Ohafia, while Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North and Ikwuano would likely go to Ikpeazu. Our Correspondent is keeping vigil at the collation center to file updates as the drama continues to unfold.
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.
