The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Sunday, declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olaka Nwogu, as the winner of the Rivers South East Senatorial District bye-election conducted on Saturday.

Only four political partie, the All Progressives Congress, the People’s Democratic Party, Action Alliance and the Labour Party, participated in the election.

The Bye-election followed the death of the former representative of the Senatorial District, Senator Barry Mpigi, who passed on in February this year.

The poll was contested in seven local government areas of Rivers South-East District. 

They are Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme, Andoni. Oyigbo and Opobo.

INEC Returning Officer for the election, Professor Rosemary Ogu, announced the result at the Rivers South East Senatorial Collation Centre at the Khana Local Government Council Secretariat in Bori, Rivers State on Saturday night.

Ogu declared that Nwogu Olaka Johnson of the PDP secured 46,961 votes to emerge as the winner of the election.

The PDP candidate, Nwogu, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defeated his closest rival, Osarokaka Ebenezer Erewari of the APC, who polled 1,647 votes.

The Returning Officer stated that Nwogu Olaka Johnson had met the requirements of the law and was accordingly declared elected as the Senator representing the Rivers South East Senatorial District.

Prof. Ogu stated, “The election was contested. The candidates received the following votes. Douglass Fabeke, Male of the political party, AA, received a total of 1175. OsaroKaka Ebenezer Erewar, male, of the APC political party, 1647 votes. Sam Kinani, male, of the LP political party, 367 votes. Nwogu Olaka Johnson, male, of the PDP political party, 47961 votes.

“That Nwogu Olaka Johnson of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”