President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has defeated his opponent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Mohammadu Buhari in a keenly contested election in Nasarawa State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the state collation officer, Prof. Abdulmumin Hassan Rafindadi while announcing the results said Jonathan defeated Buhari with 36, 627 votes.
Jonathan polled 273, 460 while Buhari of the APC polled a total of 236, 838 after leading in seven local government areas out of thirteen.
President Jonathan’s return quest got its biggest boost in Nasarawa Eggon local government which is home to an array of PDP stalwarts like Sen. Solomon Ewuga and Sen. Patricia Akwashiki, minister for Information.
He polled 44, 825 as against Buhari’s 7, 574 to close in on a heavy defeat he suffered in Nasarawa local government where Buhari polled 29, 160 as against his 19, 889.
Lafia, the state capital, which hitherto gave APC landslide victories in elections could not deliver Buhari in the same spirit this time as the votes returned shows that the APC got 53, 008 votes to PDPs 51, 633.
To emerge victorious in a state which was previously written off for APC, Jonathan defeated his opponent in Keana, Obi, Kokona, Doma, Karu, Nasarawa-Eggon and Akwanga local government areas.