Gov Wike maintains lead against AAC with over 600,000 votes in 19 of 23 LGAs

Nyesom Wike, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state, has extended his lead in the results of the election so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

TheCable reported that Wike, incumbent governor, was winning with a margin of 296,424 votes after INEC resumed collation of election results on Tuesday.

He had polled 426, 279 votes from 15 local government areas (LGAs), ahead of Biokpomabo Awara, candidate of the African Alliance Congress (AAC), who garnered 129,855 votes.

The commission suspended the exercise on Tuesday evening and when it resumed collation on Wednesday, the governor extended his lead with 601,423 votes after results from four LGAs were announced.

While he polled 12,133 votes to Awara’s 5,071 in Degema LGA, the duo recorded 32,172 and 18,945 votes in Asari-Toru LGA respectively.

In Obio/Akpor LGA where Wike hails from, he garnered as high as 281,164 votes as against Awara’s 7,495 votes.

He also defeated the AAC candidate in Ogo/Bolo LGA where he polled 11,855 votes while his rival got 814.

The AAC, whose deputy governorship candidate has since resigned, is being backed by Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), after his party failed to qualify in the governorship election.

The collation centre has adjourned till 3pm, with results from four LGAs left to be announced.