The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, the winner of Saturday’s election.
The returning officer, Professor Faruk Kuta, said the APC candidate polled 473,933 votes to defeat the candidate of PDP, Titus Uba who scored 223,914 votes while the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Hemma Hembe polled 41,841 votes to come third distant.
The APC governorship candidate won in 17 LGAs, PDP won in four LGAs and Labour Party won in one LGA.
The governorship election did not hol in Kwande local government area due to print error in ballot papers meant for the council.
The returning officer said that the Commission relied on section 24 sub sec. 1 of electoral act and INEC guidelines to declare the winner the election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sam Egwu, had said when the margin of lead is more than registered voters in the local government, the commission would declare winner.
Kwande LGA with 15 Registration Areas has 172,294 registered voters while the margin of lead stands at 250,020 votes.
