The Senator
representing Cross River Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly,
John Owan-Enoh, on Tuesday emerged as candidate of the All Progressives
Congress for the 2019 governorship election in the state.
Earlier on
Monday, a faction of the party led by Mr. Etim John had conducted a parallel
governorship primary, where it announced the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs,
Mr. Uguru Usani, as the winner of the exercise.
However,
announcing the results at about 1.49am on Tuesday, chairman of the seven-man
Governorship Primaries Committee, which was constituted by the National Working
Committee of the APC, Mr. Ali Magaji, said Owan-Enoh scored 82,272 votes to
beat four other aspirants to the ticket of the party.
Other
contestants in the election, which was done through direct primaries, were a
former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, who came second with 7,367
votes; Prof Etim Nyong (5,786); Mr. Upan Odey (3,892) and Mr. Uguru Usani
(1,778).
Magaji
described the exercise as “a family affair,” urging all members of the party to
support the winner of the exercise to be able to emerge victorious in the
general elections next year.
According to
him, there was no victor or vanquished, and called on all members to be united.
He commended
security agencies for ensuring a hitch-free exercise and also the Independent
National Electoral Commission for monitoring the entire process.
In his brief
remarks, Owan-Enoh expressed delight at his emergence, saying the proper thing
was done.
A total of
106,212 voters were accredited. There were 101,095 valid votes, 117 invalid
votes, while 111,212 votes were cast in the election.
The National
Vice-Chairman of the APC, South-South, Hilliard Eta; and the state chairman of
the party, Dr. Mathew Achigbe, were among top officials present at the
collation centre.
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