The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Olaka Nwogu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the Rivers south-east senatorial by-election held on Saturday.
Rosemary Ogu, INEC returning officer for the election, said Nwogu secured 47,961 votes. Beke Fabeke of the Action Alliance (AA) polled 1,175 votes, while Osarosaka Ebenezer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received 1,647 votes. Sam Bariboa of the Labour Party (LP) recorded 367 votes.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seat following the death of Barinada Mpigi, who passed away in February.
Nwogu is aligned with the PDP faction backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking after being declared winner, Nwogu promised to provide “effective representation” for the senatorial district.
Nwogu previously represented Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2011 under the PDP platform.
He was elected senator in 2015 after defeating Magnus Abe of the APC, but the Court of Appeal later nullified his victory, and he subsequently lost the rerun election.