The Labour Party (LP) has won in 10 out of 18 local government areas of Cross River state.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got 7 local government areas leaving one for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Our reporter, who monitored the collation of the election results in the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said the LP won in Calabar South, Yakurr and Obudu, Gov Ben Ayade’s local government area.
The party also swept Bakassi, Ikom, Bekwarra, Calabar Municipality, Yala, Ogoja and Akamkpa.
The result announced in Calabar, Monday night, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which was supervised by the State Presidential Collation Officer, Prof Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, indicated the Labour Party polled 179, 935 votes to come above the APC with 130, 520 votes. The PDP trailed with 95, 415 votes.
Similarly, Hon Bassey Akiba, candidate of the LP also won the House of Representatives seat for Odukpani federal constituency, defeating a sitting House Member, Hon Eta Mbora of the PDP and another contender, Ntufam Inok Edim of the APC.
Moreover, the Returning Officer for the central senatorial district election, Dr. Okeme Isaac, had, late Monday, declared the APC candidate and the current Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, winner of the senatorial seat.
Eteng defeated Honorable Bassey Eko Ewa of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP with 57,344 votes while Ewa polled 53, 453 votes.
There were indications that the APC candidate for the southern senatorial district, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, had also floored his PDP opponent, Ntufam Ekpo Okon. The official announcement of the result was being awaited as at press time.
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the PDP had earlier won the Cross River northern senatorial district seat, defeating Governor Ben Ayade of the APC with 76,145 votes. Ayade scored 56, 595 votes.
Meanwhile the result for the House of Representatives seats released so far showed that the APC has already won five House of Representatives seats, PDP has two while the LP clinched the remaining one seat.
In an interview, an APC supporter in Calabar, Chief Etim Ekpenyong, described LPs performance in the polls as shocking and prayed that the party would not cause another upset in the governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 11. 2023.
