…As Senator Sekibo Picks Rivers East Ticket
…Rivers West Primary Suspended
Member representing Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Barry Mpigi, has picked the Rivers South-East Senatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s General Elections.
At a keenly contested Rivers South East Senatorial District Primary election held at the Obi-Wali International Conference Center, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Mpigi polled 797 votes to defeat Senator Olaka Johnson Nwogu, who garnered 103 votes.
The INEC Electoral officer, Mr. Ferdinand Ibezim, who announced the results, said 3 void votes were recorded, adding that none of the 974 delegates accredited for the election were absent during voting.
Details of the result showed that Rt. Hon. Mpigi’s victory was not a fluke as he routed Senator Nwogu in all 7 Local Government Areas that constitute the Rivers South East Senatorial district.
In Oyigbo, Mpigi scored 91 votes while Nwogu got 1. In Tai, he (Mpigi) got all 111 votes;
Mpigi secured 77 votes in Eleme, home Local Government Area of Senator Olaka Nwogu, with Nwogu picking just 7; Andoni delegates gave Mpigi 117 votes while Nwogu got 7. In Gokana, Mpigi got 130 votes with Nwogu getting 42, while Mpigi secured 73 votes in Opobo/Nkoro, leaving 41 for Nwogu.
In his post victory speech, Rt. Hon Barry Mpigi hailed Senator Olaka Nwogu and his gallant supporters for giving him a good fight, describing Senator Nwogu as a man of great ability and a distinguished Senator whose experience is needed to prosecute the campaigns.
He said with God on their side, the PDP will win next year’s election and get people of the Senatorial zone back on the path of prosperity.,
Rt. Hon. Mpigi said he would put the issue of security on the front burner and move for laws that would tackle the hydra-headed monster of insecurity that has plagued the zone so that even development would be achieved.
He also promised to work for everyone in the Senatorial District irrespective of the Local Government Area the person comes from.
The Returning officer for the election, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike, commended the delegates for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner, calling on INEC to borrow a cue from the PDP, where primaries have been exemplary.
Also speaking, former Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, also commended all delegates for displaying maturity and a friendly atmosphere throughout the voting period, stressing that PDP is one large family where conflict does not exist as a result of winning or losing elections.
Meanwhile the quest by Senator George Thompson Sekibo to return to the Senate received a boost as he emerged winner of the Rivers East Senatorial Primary election held at the Port Harcourt City Council Secretariat on Tuesday.
At the end of the polls, Senator Sekibo who was the only candidate in the contest secured a total of 1,230 votes from all the delegates.
In another development, election in the Rivers West Senatorial Primary was suspended on Tuesday night following what was termed disagreements.
It was further gathered that when accredited list for the election was demanded by Aspirants and delegates so that voting can commence, a fresh list of delegates surfaced. The list was rejected by delegates and aspirants. This argument however led to the suspension of the election.
Reports also confirmed that the situation resulted to commotion and the Returning Officer had no choice but to suspend the exercise to a future date.
Rivers South-East PDP Senatorial Primary Election Results
Oyigbo LGA
Barry Mpigi – 91
Olaka Nwogu -1
Tai LGA:
Barry Mpigi – 111
Olaka Nwogu- 0
Khana LGA:
Barry Mpigi – 190
Olaka Nwogu – 5
Void Vote: 3
Eleme LGA:
Barry Mpigi – 77
Olaka Nwogu – 7
Void Vote – 1
Andoni LGA:
Barry Mpigi – 117
Olaka Nwogu – 7
Gokana LGA:
Barry Mpigi – 130
Olaka Nwogu – 42
Void Vote – 1
Opobo Nkoro LGA:
Barry Mpigi – 73
Olaka Nwogu – 41
