The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Jude Ngaji of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency by-election in Cross River.
INEC Returning Officer for the election Dr John Edor, announced the result Sunday in Ogoja.
Edor said Ngaji scored 22,778 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mike Usibe of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 20,590 votes.
Reacting, Alphonsus Eba, the state APC chairman, commended INEC for a good job.
“The use of BVAS facilitated free and fair election,” he said.
Eba also commended President Muhammad Buhari for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2022, into law.
“This will surely strengthen the electoral process,” he said.
The state PDP Chairman Venatius Ikem, said his party was still studying the situation and will respond at the most appropriate time.
“There were discrepancies noticed during the election in many polling units but the party will respond in due course,” he said.
The election was to fill the vacuum created after Rep. Jarigbe Agom, left to represent Cross River North at the Senate.
NAN