YPP candidates in Akwa Ibom defeat PDP in NASS and state assembly elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) the winner of the run-off election for the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

Ukpong-Udo, who returns to the National Assembly for a second term, polled a total of 24,050 votes to defeat his closest rival, Glory Edet of the People’s Democratic Party, who polled 17,282 votes.

He was first elected to the National Assembly on the PDP platform, but boycotted the PDP primaries and later defected to the YPP.

The declaration of the election results was broadcast live on Facebook on Sunday.

This is the second time that the federal legislator defeats Mrs. Edet, a former state commissioner.

The electoral body had declared the February 25, 2023 elections in the area inconclusive and had set April 15 of the same year for a supplementary election, alleging that it was marred by violence and theft of ballot boxes.

The supplementary elections, according to the commission, were again characterized by violence and irregularities, forcing INEC to cancel the elections.

The commission later compiled the results in some polling units where it said the elections were held, merged them with the February 25 results and declared Mr Ukpong-Udo the winner.

Ms. Edet, the PDP candidate who was dissatisfied with the result, challenged the commission’s decision and won at the Court of Appeal, which ordered a redo.

In Saturday’s rerun in which the YPP candidate defeated the PDP candidate, the commission also canceled elections in some polling units in the area, saying they were marred by violence and hauling away of election materials.

In the second rerun for Ibiono Ibom state constituency, YPP candidate Moses Essien again defeated PDP candidate Godwin Ekpo.

Ekpo had challenged Essien’s victory in the March 18, 2023 election and won before the Court of Appeal, which ordered a rerun in the area.

In the re-run of the elections held on Saturday, Godwin Ayi, the INEC collation officer, declared Essien, the YPP candidate, the winner of the elections, Vanguard newspaper reported without giving details of the votes polled by the two candidates.