Nwifuru wins, to succeed Umahi as Ebonyi governor

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress  in Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, was on Monday declared the winner of the election.

Nwifuru who is the current speaker of the state House of Assembly also won 10 local government areas.

He scored 199,131 votes, while his closest party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP polled 80,191 votes; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA got 52189; the New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP scored 674, and Labour Party, LP had 6,793 votes.

Prof Charles Igwe, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, declared Nwifuru as the winner of the election.

He said, “Having scored the highest number of valid votes, Francis Nwifuru of the APC is hereby declared winner and returned elected.”

In his acceptance speech, Nwifuru said, “I therefore accept this declaration, this mantle, to serve as the next Governor of Ebonyi State, in the Name of the Father, the son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

“What a day we have upon us today. Let me thank God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Giver and Taker of life, the Maker of Kings, and Giver of power, our Supreme Father, for a marvellous day like this, for crowning our efforts with resounding success.

“This is a thoroughly deserved victory for Ebonyi people, for Continuity and Consolidation on the brilliant works of the present administration. We came on Divine Mandate and together, we shall all work to meet the needs of Ebonyi people, that is why our Manifesto is themed “The People’s Charter of Needs.”