By Frank Ulom
Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the newly elected Governor of Cross River State after winning the 2023 Governorship election.
Otu polled won the 2023 Governorship election by a 59% vote difference against his closest contender, Senator (Professor) Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Returning Officer, Prof. Teddy Charles Adias on Monday, March 20, 2023, at the Mike Igini Hall, 2023 Governorship Election Collation Centre in Calabar, Otu polled a total of 258,619 votes to defeat Onor who scored a total of 179,636 votes and came second.
Meanwhile, Mr Osim Ogar of the Labour Party (LP) polled a paltry 5,957 votes to come third, likewise, Pastor Usani Usani of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) polled 3,052 votes to come fourth.
Adias further declared that…”Bassey Edet Otu of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected”.
In total, the APC candidate was declared the Governor-elect after winning 15 out of 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) with a 78,983 vote difference.
CONVERSEER gathered that there was wild jubilation in Cross River State, especially Calabar and the Southern part of the State where the Back-To-South mantra is high.
Final Results For The 2023 Governorship Election In Cross River State
APC = 258,619 – Winner
PDP = 179,636
LP = 5,957
AA = 405
ADC = 1,620
ADP = 902
APP = 340
NRM = 441
PRP = 3,052
SDP = 628
YPP = 333
Vote Difference = 78,983
Registered Voters = 1,766,466
Valid Votes = 451,933
Rejected Votes = 8,923
Total Votes Cast = 460,856