The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency bye-election in Zamfara inconclusive.
The INEC Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Lawal Sa’adu of Federal University Gusau said that the declaration followed the cancellation of results from some polling units in Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards.
Sa’adu said the total number of registered voters in the affected polling units stood at 5,446, while 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected in those areas.
He explained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 5,339 votes, leaving a margin of 1,662 votes.
Sa’adu stated that the margin was less than the total number of PVCs collected in the cancelled polling units, therefore, the election cannot be concluded.
The electoral umpire sited Sections 24 sub section 2 & 3, Section 47 sub section 3, and Section 51 sub section 2 of the Electoral Act 2022 as reasons for declaring the election inconclusive
He said the Electoral Act 2022 and the Manual for Election Officials, such a situation arises where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates was not in excess of the number of collected PVCs in areas where elections were cancelled.
According to him, therefore, the Returning Officer shall decline to declare a winner until supplementary elections are conducted.
The retuning officer also said that the two registration areas affected by the cancellation were: Sakajiki Ward, with two polling units affected, having 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 PVCs collected.
The other was Kambarawa Ward, with three polling units affected and having 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 PVCs collected.
Sa’adu, therefore, declared the election inconclusive, pending the conduct of a supplementary poll in the affected polling units.
He said INEC would announce a new date for rerun election in the five affected polling units across Sakajiki and Kyambarawa wards.
Inconclusive by-election: Zamfara APC reacts
Meanwhile, the Zamfara chapter of APC has commended the electorate for the massive turnout in Saturday’s Kaura Namoda South State Assembly Constituency by-election.
Reacting to the outcome of the election, in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday, the State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, described the electorate’s support to the party during the by-election as timely.
“The state APC chapter wishes to appreciate the kind support and resilience of the electorate during the elections despite all the challenges.
“We appreciate people of Kaura Namoda South State Assembly Constituency for turning out en mass and voting for APC in spite of the harassment from thugs and members of Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) in the polling units.
“The by-election election has shown the strength and continued acceptance of the party in the state by the electorate,” he said.
Idris added that APC was very much appreciative with the voters as it was leading with over 1,600 votes, adding , “this is a clear indication of where the people’s faith lies.
“Although the results for the election were declared inconclusive, we are confident that the electoral umpire, INEC will not allow itself to be used for the denial of the rights of the electorate.
“We also appreciate our leaders, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for their constant support and encouragement to the operations and management of the party in the state.
“We call on members and supporters of the APC and members of the public to remain calm,” he added.