Jacob Ogodo, Abakaliki
The Speaker, Ebonyi state house of Assembly and the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has been declared winner of the last Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Declaring the result at the Independent National Electoral Commission state headquarters in Abakaliki, the State Returning Officer,, Prof. Charles Igwe said Mr Nwifuru garnered 199,331 votes across the 13 local governments areas of the state.
His closest challenger, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got 80, 186 votes.
The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, placed third with just 52,109 votes.
“I hereby certify that I Prof Charles Igwe was the Returning Officer of the governorship election held on 18th math 2023 in Ebonyi state.
“That Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of the APC having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes is hereby returned and elected,”
Prof. Igwe , who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN said the total valid votes was 342554 while 7387 votes were rejected bringing the total votes cast for the election to 3449941.
Mr Nwifuru who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has thanked the people of Ebonyi state for electing him.
Nwifuru described his declaration as a thoroughly deserved victory for Ebonyi people, for Continuity and Consolidation on the brilliant works of the present administration, adding that they came on Divine Mandate and together, they shall all work to meet the needs of Ebonyi people, and that is why his Manifesto is themed “The People’s Charter of Needs.”
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for seamless, transparent, free, fair and credible elections and his fellow candidates from all other political parties, whom he said went on the journey with him fervently in a bid to make the lives of their people better.
“This is a thoroughly deserved victory for Ebonyi people, for Continuity and Consolidation on the brilliant works of the present administration. We came on Divine Mandate and together, we shall all work to meet the needs of Ebonyi people, that is why our Manifesto is themed “The People’s Charter of Needs.”
“During our campaigns, we laid before you, my dear people, what will be the essence of our administration and I make proud to say that we will not deter in fulfilling our promises to you.
” I thank very specially, all my fellow candidates from all other political parties, who went on this journey with me fervently in a bid to make the lives of our people better. We brought out the bests in one another and I make bold to say, that we are all winners.
“My appreciation equally goes to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for a seamless, transparent, free, fair and credible election.
