The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today 22 March 2023 declares Peter Mbah of the PDP governor-elect of Enugu State.

State Returning Officer, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe said this evening that Enug East votes were reduced from 30,350 votes to 16,956.

This leaves the Labour Party with 157,552 votes and PDP with 160,895 votes, a margin of 3,000.

He also said that Frank Nweke Jr. of APGA came third with 17,983 votes.

INEC in close-door meeting with security chiefs

11.45 a.m. The decision from the big security meeting just ended will be heard shortly. INEC officials are settling down for some big announcements.

Following security situation at INEC collation  heads of security agencies in Enugu have gone into a closed-door meeting with INEC officials.

Our correspondent reports that the INEC Commissioner and Returning Officer are meeting with Police, Army, DSS, and Civil Defence chiefs in the State.

INEC has asked the parties and observers to wait for the decision to be taken at the meeting.

According to our reporter, there are three possible decisions:

1. Cancel Nsukka and Enugu East returns and order fresh elections.

2. Cancel Nsukka and Enugu East returns and declare results based on the other undisputed results.

3. Cancel only one of the disputed results, which will give one party an advantage

Labour is pushing for Option  3, which is it’s only pathway to victory.

PDP will maintain its lead with Option 2. The party will have 133,056 votes to Labour’s 125,376 if the result is announced without the disputed figures from Nsukka and Enugu East. The difference between them is 7,680 votes in favour of PDP

Mbah is Enugu Governor-elect

Author

  • Ogbuagu Bob Anikwe is the publisher of Enugu Metro. He writes a well-received column for Enugu Metro (on Sundays) and the (Nigerian) Sun Newspaper every Thursday. Contact Bob through any of the channels below or send an SMS to +234 803 622-0298.

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