. Labour Party Clinches House of Assembly Seat
By Magnus Effiong
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has collated results for 15 of Cross River’s 18 local government areas, and in which the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, won in 12. Council areas.
Results of the polls declared so far on Sunday evening indicated that Prince Otu won in Obubra, Obudu, Bakassi, Abi, Yala, Biase, Calabar South, Etung, Odukpani, Calabar Municipality, Akpabuyo and Yakurr while the PDP’s Senator Sandy Onor took Ogoja, Ikom and Bekwarra.
The result were declared at the State Headquarters of the Commission in Calabar and which was presided over by the State Reurning Officer for the election, Prof Teedy Charles of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Collations of results from the remaining three local government areas, which include Akamkpa, Boki and Obanliku, it was learnt, was shifted to Monday morning.
As at press ime, the APC also floored opponents in 13 of the 25 the State House of Assembly seats announced so far while the PDP won in three and surprisingly, the Labour Party also bared its fangs, wining the coveted Yala 1 State Constituency seat.
The results so far declared by INEC showed that State Constituencies won by APC candidates include Abi, Biase, Bakassi, Boki 2, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South 1 and Etung.
Others are Ikom 2, Odukpani, Obudu, Obubra 1, Obubra 2 and Yakurr 1. The opposition PDP won the Bekwarra, Ogoja and Yala 2 seats. 8 more seats were pending as at press time.
Our reporter also learnt that due to a wide spread clamour for power to return to the southern senatorial district of the State, the APC caused its governorship candidate to come from the south with Senator Bassey Otu getting the ticket.
Surprisingly, the opposition PDP elected to get its own candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, from the central, a development, reports say, prompted many PDP members from the south, north and even central senatorial districts to work against the interest of the party.