From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benue State has declared the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, as the winner of Saturday’s governorship elections in the state.
The Returning Officer, Professor Farouk Kuta, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, who announced the result said the APC candidate polled a total of 473,933 votes to defeat his closet rival, Mr Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), who polled a 223, 913 votes.
Alia won the governorship election with a margin of 250,018 votes, being the highest since the history of elections in Benue State.
The third position went to the candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), Hon. Herman Hembe who polled a total of 41,881 votes.
The total valid votes was 756,903 with total rejected votes at 11,499 and total votes cast was 768,402.
Declaring the result, the INEC REC, Professor Kuta said INEC is relying on the Electoral act of section 24 (1) and the INEC guidelines.
He declared therefore “That Hyacinth Iornem Alia, of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the elections and is returned elected.
Our correspondent reports that out of Benue’s 23 Local Government Areas, the APC candidate, Alia, won 17 LGAs .
His closest rival, Titus Uba, from the PDP won in four LGAs including Agatu, Logo, Gwer West and Guma while the Labour Party won only in one LG which is Konshisha.