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By Bologi M. Maikudi
The gubernatorial election in Benue state has been declared inconclusive by the Independent Nation al Electoral Commission (INEC)
The Returning Officer of the state’s governorship election, Professor Sabastine Maimako, who made the declaration on Monday noted that areas where election did not take place had a voting strength of 121, 019 while the margin between two leading candidates stood at 81, 554.
Governor Samuel Ortom who is seeking reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored a total of 410, 576 votes.
But Professor Maimako said that the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Emmanuel Jime polled 329, 022 votes to come second, followed by PRP’s candidate, Rev. Fredrick Ikyaan, who polled a total of 26, 659 votes.
APC won in 11 LGAs while the PDP cleared 12 LGAs out of the 23 LGAs in the state.
Maimako said there were a total of 2, 480, 131 registered voters while total accredited voters stood at 816, 969.
The total valid votes was put at 790, 102 while total rejected votes were 14, 560 and total vote cast stood at 804, 662.
The PDP’s State central agent, Barrister Alex Adum, has accused INEC of compromising in not declaring Ortom winner of the poll.
The Benue REC, Nentawe Yilwatda, however urged all aggrieved persons to go to court.
The results so far:
1. Oju LGA
APC – 19, 061
PDP – 13, 110
2. Obi LGA
APC – 9, 696
PDP – 9, 055
3. Gwer West LGA
APC – 7, 292
PDP – 14, 375
4. Ogbadigbo LGA
APC – 9,018
PDP -8,518
5. Gwer East LGA
APC -14, ,582
PDP -19, 596
6. Ushongo LGA
APC -14, 589
PDP -22, 351
7. Ohimini LGA
APC -8, 470
PDP -7, 304
8. Agatu LGA
APC -7, 538
PDP -9, 935
9. Apa LGA
APC -8, 460
PDP -8, 429
10. Otukpo LGA
APC -21, 530
PDP -12, 903
11. Tarka LGA
APC – 16, 919
PDP – 2, 975
12. Ukum LGA
APC -11, 725
PDP -22, 540
13. Kastina-Ala LGA
APC -21, 614
PDP -17, 980
14. Ado LGA
APC -7, 711
PDP -7, 258
15. Guma LGA
APC -8, 869
PDP -28, 479
16. Gboko LGA
APC -28, 540
PDP -36, 186
17. Makurdi LGA
APC -35, 967
PDP -29, 232
18. Logo LGA
APC -4, 552
PDP -30, 152
19. Buruku LGA
APC -13, 215
PDP -29, 141
20. Kwande LGA
APC -22, 783
PDP -29, 048
21. Okpokwu LGA
APC -8372
PDP -8297
22. Vandekiya LGA
APC -18, 579
PDP -27, 124
23. Konshisha LGA
APC -9, 940
PDP -16, 588