Imo Election: PDP's Ihedioha beats AA's Nwosu to become Governor-elect

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 governorship polls in Imo state, Mr Emeka Ihedioha has emerged victorious.

The final results were announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Francis Otonta, at the Imo governorship election collation centre in Owerri, the state capital on Tuesday.

The former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Ihedioha won in 11 of the 27 LGAs polling a total 273,404 votes to defeat the closest contender, Mr Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) who won in 10 LGAs and got 190,364 votes.

Other participants in the 70-man Imo guber contest include Mr Ifeanyi Araraume of APGA, a former senator who had 114,676 votes, winning in four LGAs.

APC's Hope Uzodinma, a serving Senator representing Imo West Senatorial district garnered 96,458 votes and won in two LGAs to take the fourth position.

A former governor of Imo, Mr Ikedi Ohakim of the Accord Party polled 6,846 votes to trail along side others, but won in no LGA.

A total of 739,474 votes were cast with 25,130 of the votes rejected while 714,344 were valid.

Announcing the results, Otonta who is the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike thanked INEC officials, political party agents, security operatives and journalists for their patriotic commitment to national assignment.

In his words, I salute your patriotism and commitment to this national assignment.

I hereby declare that Emeka Ihedioha, having satisfied all the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes has won the election and is hereby returned, he said.