Magnus Ngei Abe will return to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly as he has been returned as the Senator-Elect of Rivers South-East Senatorial District from the election held on Saturday.
Announcing the results, INEC Returning Officer for the district, Prof. Onuekwusi Gideon Chinedum, said Abe (APC) polled a total of 125,938 votes while Olaka Nwogu (PDP) scored 25,394 votes.
Also, he stated that Kingsley Onyekwere (LP) scored 549, Comrade Oke Brown, (NNPP), 46 and Brown Elfreda (UDP), 99 votes respectively.
Prof. Chinedum said;” Magnus Abe of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected”.
In his acceptance speech, Abe said: “First is to say that this has been a titanic struggle; it has been a very difficult two years for Rivers people and for all of us.
“My victory in this election is a reward for faithfulness. I have been faithful to my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I have been faithful to my people, the people of the Rivers South East Senatorial District and I have been faithful to my leaders and I think God, in His infinite mercies, has rewarded me with this unprecedented victory. There is no victor, no vanquish.
“I want to thank my friend and brother, Distinguished Senator Olaka Nwogu for his very kind and peaceful words, which he has expressed to the people of this state.
“I also want to use this opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to the executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and to say to him that he had promised that there was nothing personal in this contest and he has said that if I win, he will congratulate me. The only barometer for measuring success in an election in this country is the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the commission has declared me the winner. I want to call on the governor to keep his words and send me his letter and words of congratulation because I have won.
“I want to also say that Rivers State has suffered enough and that it is time for us to bring this contest to an end.
“I want to thank my leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, my wife, my family and most importantly, the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District. You have spoken and you have spoken loud and clear. We should respect your views. We should work together to make this district a better place for Nigerians to live.
“I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their kind words, friendship and support and I look forward to joining them in the Red Chamber as soon as possible”.
