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Tag: Bauchi

  • Abdusalami Committee brokers Peace as tension grips Bauchi

    The National Peace Committee led by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar on Wednesday appealed to stakeholders to calm their supporters in the wake of the halted collation of result for the March 9 governorship election.

    The committee also told them to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully as they await the outcome of a recent order from the Federal High Court in Abuja halting the collation of result.

    The court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from resuming collation of result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, the only LGA left to be announced.

    The former Head of State, who was represented by a member and Deputy Director of The Kukah Centre, Duke Anoemuah, gave the advice during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders on the peaceful 2019 elections for governorship and State House of Assembly.

    During the meeting with the theme “Ensuring peaceful Co -existence during the elections in Bauchi State” Abubakar called on all political actors to preach a message of peace to their followers to comport themselves and prevent resentment that could result to violence.

    “This meeting is geared to reinforce peace, the message of peace and to implore actors and their supporters to accept the outcome of the results of various levels of the electioneering process.

    It would help to strengthen mutual confidence among politicians and to encourage peaceful resolution of all election- related disputes with utmost regard to the rule of law and the due process, “he said.

    The atmosphere in the state is quite intense as agitated supporters have taken to the streets to protest.

    The protesters, which comprise mostly women, had registered their displeasure with the recent court order from Abuja.

    They remained defiant, pouring into the streets and venting their anger over the court decision.

    They were seen on Wednesday on the streets carrying placards with diverse inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs.

  • Tempers rise as INEC gets set for makeup elections

    Kano APC: hold Kwankwaso responsible for any breach

    Ganduje talks tough

    Benue APC, PDP flex muscles

    Sokoto police commissioner warns troublemakers

    Tempers rose yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reversed itself on the stalled governorship election in Bauchi State.

    It said the supplementary election, which it cancelled last week, will hold on Saturday in areas not affected by yesterday’s court ruling.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the electoral umpire to pull the brakes on its planned resumption of collation of results for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been pushing for the collation and declaration of the results, rejected the decision.

    Besides Bauchi, supplementary elections are holding also in Benue, Adamawa, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states.

    Amid the anxiety in Kano State, Governor Umar Ganduje warned against any breach of the peace.

    His warning came as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) advised security agents and residents to hold former Governor Musa Kwanwaso responsible for any violence.

    The police in Sokoto were warning criminals to stay away.

    In Benue, the APC and the PDP renewed their war of words over the supplementary polls.

    INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said the Commission, will work towards the expeditious resolution of the collation in the local government.

    He said: “The commission has complied with the order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Commission has suspended the collation of the governorship election result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

    “The commission will proceed and complete the Collation of the result of the State Assembly Election for Tafawa Balewa Local Government and make a return.

    “The Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the court order.

    “The commission has a history of obedience to court orders. The commission will continue to comply with court orders and will take steps to vacate orders where it feels strongly that the court that gave the order has no jurisdiction.

    “The Commission will work towards the expeditious resolution of the collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.”

    In a bench ruling yesterday, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ordered parties in a suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent Governor Muhammed Abubakar to maintain the status quo.

    The judge ordered “that parties shall maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the substantive matter of this case”.

    The judge adjourned the hearing till today.

    Justice Ekwo judge gave the order following INEC’s failure to comply with the earlier order he made on Monday for it to appear yesterday and show cause why the reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs in their motion ex-parte should not be granted.

    The APC and Abubakar had, in their motion ex-parte, prayed the court for two main reliefs:

    • An order of interim injunction restraining the defendant/respondent whether by Itself or acting through its agents, privies or any person on its behalf, howsoever described, from resuming, concluding and/or announcing the collation of the results of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchl State in respect of election to the office of the Governor of Bauchl State held on 9th” March, 2019, pending the hearing and determination of the the plaintiff/applicant’s motion on notice.
    • An order of accelerated hearing and abridgement of time to two days within which the defendant/respondent is to enter appearance and file its response in defence of the suit.

    Rather than granting the reliefs ex-parte, the court, on Monday, ordered INEC, listed as the sole defendant in the suit, to show cause why the plaintiffs’ reliefs should not be granted.

    The judge said: “The defendant is hereby ordered to appear in court on 19th March 2019 to show cause why the orders prayed on the motion ex-parte ought not to be granted.”

    When parties got to the court yesterday, INEC, represented by Tanimu Inuwa (SAN), told the court that the electoral body had filed a counter-affidavit to the plaintiffs’ originating summons.

    He also made an oral application, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the motion filed by the ruling party and its candidate, which, he argued, could only be entertained by an election tribunal.

    Raji objected to Inuwa’s position, insisting that INEC was yet to comply with the court’s order for it to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

    The Judge upheld Raji’s contention that INEC was yet to comply with the court’s order for it to show why the chiefs should not be granted.

    He said while INEC could not challenge the court’s jurisdiction by oral application, the counter-affidavit did not qualify as an affidavit showing cause.

    Justice Ekwo consequently ordered the parties to maintain the status quo (as things were) before the court’s proceedings and adjourned till tomorrow for the hearing.

    INEC, in its counter-affidavit, deposed to by Hassan Adamu, an officer of INEC, queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case brought by APC and Abubakar.

    It stated that contrary to paragraph 22 of the affidavit in support of originating summons, “I state that the decision by the defendant to conclude collation for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State was made based on the figures contained in the duplicates of results of the election”.

    “Contrary to paragraph 29 of the affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that: Only Election Petition Tribunal has the jurisdiction to review the decision of the commission.

    “The decision of the Returning Officer referred to is in respect of declaration of scores and return of candidate, which is the exclusive preserve of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The defendant having rescinded its earlier decision based on facts that emerged later and made a return, any grievance arising therefrom now rests with the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The availability of polling units’ results made the defendant to rescind its decision to conduct supplementary election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 30 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the plaintiffs’ right to fair election (if any) will not be affected in any way.

    “Contrary to paragraph 31 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that none of the voting populace of Bauchi State will be disenfranchised, elections having been concluded.

    “Contrary to paragraph 32 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the instant action is targeted at stopping the performance of a constitutional duty.

    “Contrary to paragraph 33 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the plaintiffs do not have any threatened right capable of being protected.

    “Contrary to paragraph 34 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the issues raised in this application are not triable by this honourable comt, same bordering on return at an election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 35 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that all eligible voters have cast their votes, leading to a return and once that is the case, this honourable court is divested of the jurisdiction to entertain this case.”

    Read also: Improved healthcare is priority for Buhari’s administration — Udoma

    KANO

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday warned that his government would not tolerate any breach of the peace under whatever guise.

    He said the state government would not fold its arms and watch “some desperate politicians instigate instability” and plunge the state into crisis.

    “As governor of Kano State and the Chief Security Officer of the state, I cannot sleep if any drop of blood is wasted. Brandishing of harmful objects is also abhorred by my administration,” Ganduje said.

    He made the assertions when an amalgamation of over 300 associations, under the platform of Kano Peace Ambassadors, visited him, assuring him of their resolve to promote peaceful coexistence before, during and after next Saturday’s supplementary governorship election.

    The groups marched from the Emir’s Palace through the streets to the Government House, where the governor received them.

    A letter was given to Ganduje, explaining their resolve to always see that peace thrives in the state.

    The Kano State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), led by Kabiru Ado Lakwaya and the National Association of Kano State Students Association (NAKSS) led its National President Aliyu Maikasuwa Rano, were among the organisations that visited the Government House.

    Ganduje said he was not speaking as a candidate, but as the governor of Kano State and the chief security officer of the state, that “anybody wishing to disrupt the peace and stability of the state will not go scot-free. Kano is a very peaceful state and must remain peaceful.”

    He told his audience the peace accord he and other candidates in the state signed before the presidential and National Assembly elections, was still in force.

    A similar accord was signed, according to him, before the governorship and state assembly elections.

    He said: “After the signing of the Accord, I invited all the contestants for a group photograph, which they all joined at the venue of the signing event.

    “After the signing ceremony, I also invited all of them to the Government House for a special dinner. All the contestants were there with the exception of only one. I am just trying to prove to you how peaceful our government is”

    Abubakar Muhammad Janaral, who co-led the groups, commended Ganduje for making statements that promote peaceful co-existent.

    Janaral said: “Your Excellency, we are monitoring speeches that are being made by political leaders in the state, we found out that, many out there are only triggers to instability.

    “We are indeed commending your political statements that prove to be in line with peaceful engagements. Anyone you see here, Your Excellency, is a Peace Ambassador.

    “Sir, as the chief security officer, we urge you to continue promoting peace and stability in the state. And we are living witnesses that your speeches then and now are all drivers to peace and stability.”

    Also yesterday, the ruling APC urged security agencies and Kano residents to hold Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso responsible should there be any breach of the peace before, during and after the March 23 supplementary governorship poll in the state.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth & Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, the APC leadership in Kano expressed worry over inciting comments credited to the former governor.

    Garba, who doubles as the Chairman, Publicity Committee, Kano APC Campaign Organisation, wondered why the senator has not been called to order by security agencies in the state, particularly, the police.

    SOKOTO

    The Sokoto State Police Command yesterday warned potential crime perpetrators to steer clear during and after the supplementary election in the state.

    Commissioner of Police Aminu Koji Kwabe said the command would not tolerate any breach of the law, especially in the 136 polling units across 22 local government areas, where the extra poll will be conducted.

    The police commissioner spoke while parading no fewer than 12 suspected criminals apprehended in possession of dangerous weapons and hard drugs.

    The criminal hideout raided by the police included:  Gidan Igwai; Old Garage; Central Moto Park; Gangare Gidan Dankure and Mana Area – all within the Sokoto metropolis.

    Also recovered from the suspects were 140 wraps of Indian hemp; 549 pieces of hard drugs, including pieces of exol and six sachets of Diazepom, among others.

    Kwabe, represented by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadeeq, said the command will not relent on its effort to rid the state of criminals.

    He urged drug abusers, thugs and other potential criminals to change their ways as the police would neither tolerate, nor relent their efforts in combating crime and criminals planning to foment trouble during the rescheduled election.

    Kwabe urged the maintenance of peace during the process and after the announcement of the results, warning that the police in the state would not allow the collapse of law and order in the state.

    “Law and order must be maintained in Sokoto. The command will not hesitate to deal with any one tempting its strength by causing mayhem during and after the elections. We will also ensure we bring perpetrators of violence to book to face justice”, he said.

    BENUE

    The Benue chapters of the APC and PDP engaged in muscle-flexing yesterday.

    Both parties are confident of winning the supplementary election billed for Saturday.

    Sam Ode, who is the running mate to the APC governorship candidate, said the electorate would on Saturday cast their ballot for his party’s flagbearer, Emmanuel Jime.

    He said the people were desirous for a change to better their living conditions.

    Speaking in an telephone chat with The Nation, Ode, a former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, maintained that for civil servants and pensioners to enjoy their benefits on regular basis, the PDP government must be voted out on Saturday.

    He stated: “Just like the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been paying federal workers promptly, the APC in Benue will give priority to welfare of workers and pensioners who are senior citizens of the state.

    “It takes wisdom for any Benue governor to know that the economy of the state revolved around public workers’ salaries and the APC had already put in measures to give adequate attention to Benue workers and called on voters to come out and vote APC on Saturday.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Abraham Kwaghngu told our correspondent that Benue people were already at home with Governor Samuel Ortom and would vote him again in the rescheduled election.

    He noted that never in the history of the state has a governor staked his neck for the people and defended them as done by Ortom.

    Kwaghngu said: “The good thing about Benue supplementary election is Governor Ortom is ahead of his opponent with 81,000 votes wide margin and no magic would save the APC.”

    He called on PDP supporters to turn out and vote Ortom once and for all so that he can settle down to business.

    Kwaghngu noted: “All the polling units in contention are PDP strongholds and therefore, there is nothing to worry about.”

     

  • Bauchi: INEC to proceed with supplementary elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will continue with the scheduled supplementary elections in Bauchi state, it was learnt.

    INEC noted that the poll slated for this Saturday will hold in areas not affected by the court ruling.

    Disclosing this Tuesday, the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye said the  Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

    Besides, Okoye said that INEC will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

    He said, “The Commission has complied with the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Commission has suspended the Collation of the Governorship Election Result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

     “The Commission will proceed and complete the Collation of the result of the State Assembly Election for Tafawa Balewa Local Government and make a return.

    “The Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

    “The Commission has a history of obedience to court orders. The Commission will continue to comply with court orders and will take steps to vacate orders where it feels strongly that the Court that gave the order has no jurisdiction.

    “The Commission will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.”

  • Bauchi: INEC halts announcement of result

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), says it has complied with a court order restraining it from resuming with the collation and announcement of result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, LGA.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja had barred the Commission (INEC) from collation of result of the governorship election of March 9 in Bauchi State, in an order given by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar.

    Read Also: INEC halts collation of results for Tafawa-Balewa

    While briefing newsmen on the latest development at the headquarters of INEC office, the State Commissioner, Ibrahim Abdullahi said “The INEC has received receipt of a court order restraining it from proceeding with the collation and announcement of result in respect of Tafawa Balewa Governorship constituency”

    He however added that the order which was granted by the court does not include the Tafawa Balewa State constituency hence arrangement will be made to continue with the State constituency collation and subsequently announce the result.

  • Updated: Court to INEC: show cause for continuation of Bauchi guber polls

    …Court fixes March 20 for hearing

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay action in respect of its planned resumption collation of the suspended results for Tafawa Balewa Local Government in respect of the last governorship election in Bauchi State.

    Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, in a bench ruling on Tuesday ordered parties in a suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent Governor, Muhammed Abubakar maintain the staus quo.

    The judge ordered “That parties shall maintain status quo ante pending this proceeding pending the determination of the substantive matter of this case.”

    The judge subsequently adjourned to March 20 for hearing.

    The judge made the order on Tuesday following INEC’s failure to comply with the earlier order he made on Monday (March 18) for it to appear on March 19 and show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in their motion ex-parte should not be granted.

    APC and Abubakar had, in their motion ex-parte prayed the court for two main reliefs:

    *An order of interim injunction restraining the defendant/respondent whether by Itself or acting through its agents, privies or any person on its behalf, howsoever described, from resuming, concluding and/or announcing the collation of the results of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchl State in respect of election to the office of the Governor of Bauchi State held on 9’” March, 2019, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicant’s motion on notice.

    *An order of accelerated hearing and abridgement of time to two days within which the defendant/respondent is to enter appearance and file its response in defence of the suit.

    Rather than granting the reliefs ex-parte, the court, on Monday ordered INEC, listed as the sole defendant in the suit to show cause why the plaintiffs’ reliefs should not be granted.

    The judge said: “The defendant is hereby ordered to appear in court on 19th March 2019 to show cause why the orders prayed on the motion ex-parte ought not to be granted.”

    When parties got to court on Tuesday, INEC, represented by Tanimu Inuwa (SAN) told the court that the electoral body has filed a counter-affidavit to the plaintiffs’ originating summons.

    He also made an oral application, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the motion filed by APC and Abubakar, which he said could only be entertained by an election tribunal.

    Raji objected to Inuwa’s position, insisting that INEC was yet to comply with the court’s order for it to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

    The judge said while INEC could not challenge the court’s jurisdiction by oral application, the counter-affidavit did not qualify as an affidavit showing cause.

    He consequently ordered parties to maintain the status quo as things were before the court’s proceedings and adjourned to Wednesday, March 20 for hearing.

    INEC, in its counter-affidavit, deposed to by Hassan Adamu, an officer of INEC, queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case brought by APC and Abubakar.

    It stated that contrary to paragraph 22 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the decision by the defendant to conclude collation for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State was made based on the figures contained in the duplicates of results of the election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 29 of the affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that: Only Election Petition Tribunal has the jurisdiction to review the decision of the commission.

    “The decision of the Returning Officer referred to is in respect of declaration of scores and return of candidate which is the exclusive reserve of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The defendant having rescinded its earlier decision based on facts that emerged later and made a return, any grievance arising there from now rest with the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The availability of polling units’ results made the defendant to rescind its decision to conduct supplementary election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 30 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the plaintiffs’ right to fair election (if any) will not be affected in any way.

    “Contrary to paragraph 31 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that none of the voters voting populace of Bauchi State will be disenfranchised elections having been concluded.

    “Contrary to paragraph 32 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the instant action is targeted at stopping the performance of a constitutional duty.

    “Contrary to paragraph 33 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the plaintiffs do not have any threatened right capable of being protected.

    “Contrary to paragraph 34 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the issues raised in this application are not triable by this Honourable Court same bordering on return at an election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 35 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that all eligible voters have cast their votes leading to a return and once that is the case, this honourable court is divested of the jurisdiction to entertain this case.”

  • Bauchi: Row over INEC’s decision to resume collation of result

    The decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to resume collation and announcement of result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, which was hitherto cancelled, has sparked huge controversy in Bauchi State.

    Consequently, diverse groups have reacted to the development.

    The Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBOLAC) had backed INEC’s reversal of the cancellation of the votes of the Governorship polls of Tafawa Balewa Local government area saying “We consider INEC’s decision as the best and most proper thing to do under the circumstances”

    Addressing Journalists on Monday over the development, the convener of the body, Shipi Rabo Esq, said INEC acted in accordance with the dictates of the law and in the greater interest of all in taking the decision in question.

    Shipi therefore called on all political actors to demonstrate the support, cooperation and understanding necessary for INEC to successfully conclude the process and formally announce the winner so the waiting game characterized by tension, rumours, would be over.

    Meanwhile, the Concern Citizens, Tafawa Balewa, has opposed and INEC’s decision saying it is “Ultra Vires” contrary to law and therefore illegal with no regards to the provision of Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and INEC guidelines for 2019 general elections.

    The group stated that INEC has no power to reverse any decision taken by a Returning officer concerning election result at the collation centre.

    Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Caretaker Chairman of the Concern citizens of Tafawa Balewa, Salihu Barau, said the law provides that such a decision can only be reversed by a court of law or Tribunal and not the Commission for whatever reason.

    “There is no certainty on the genuineness of the allegedly generated results. Thus, we have lost confidence in INEC as it is apparent there would be no justice in the whole exercise.”

    It would be recalled that a fact-finding committee was set up by the commission to investigate the circumstances that led to the cancellation of results for Tafawa Balewa Local government and following the findings of the committee, INEC had approved the resumption and conclusion of results for Tafawa Balewa in relation to the Governorship election.

    The Commission also directed that error in total number of cancelled votes in four polling units in Ningi Local government area which was recorded as 25,330, in form EC40G (i) be corrected to 2,533.

    The ruling All progressive Congress, APC, in Bauchi State is currently trailing the opposition People’s Democratic Party and its candidate, Bala Muhammed, with 4,059 votes.

    The APC and the incumbent governor, Mohammed Abubakar scored 465,453 votes against the PDP’s 469,512 votes.

    A total of 1,048,220 votes was cast in the Bauchi guber election with valid votes totalling 1,026,801.21.

    419 votes were rejected while 45,312 votes were cancelled but with the error of cancelled votes discovered in Ningi Local Government where the number of cancelled votes in four polling units were recorded as 25,330, in lieu of 2,533, the cancelled votes has been reduced to 22,515.

    The collation process which will commence on Tuesday 19th March will definitely determine if there would be a rerun or not.

  • Bauchi Governor briefs Buhari on inconclusive election

    The Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, on Monday, briefed President Muhammadu Buhari over the inconclusive elections declared in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to him, the electoral umpire introduced procedure not known to the laws of the land during the March 9th elections in the state.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said “I briefed him on the issues surrounding the inconclusive elections, the Returning Officer for Bauchi State at the end of collation, rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and then 36 other units spread around 15 local governments of Bauchi state and ordered a rerun.

    Read Also: Buhari on makeup polls: I won’t influence results

    “Surprisingly, we woke up one morning and the independent electoral commission came up with a procedure that is not known to law.

    “Because, where a Returning Officer has declared the result, only an election petition tribunal can reverse the result. But INEC is attempting to reverse itself in the case of Bauchi. And when one juxtapose that of Bauchi and other states with inconclusive elections, one wonders why that is happening only in Bauchi State.

    “So, for that reason there is a need for me to come and brief Mr. President because that has the potential of touching on the security of the state and it is paramount we …”

    He added “Of course it is definitely extra illegal. It is a straight forward matter. The returning officer is the final arbiter even with respect to scores and declaration of result.

    “And once he makes a declaration, no power can reverse that declaration except duly constituted court of the land.

    On what he expects the President to do over the matter knowing that INEC is independent, he said “No no no. I said I came to brief Mr. President, I am not seeking any action of Mr. President. We all know Mr. President, he is a stickler for procedure.

    “What I pointedly told him was that I am not here to seek for you to interfere on our behalf sir but to brief you on what is happening and what actions I have taken.”

    Asked what actions he has taken, he said “One of which is that I am a lawyer and I am pursuing the legal angle. I briefed him and he emphasized on that legal angle that it is the best way to go.

    On the security of the state, the governor said “We are on top of the situation, thank God. We have since ordered the van on procession in the metropolis and things are very very calm.”

    He however said that his visit to the President was not indication that his visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over the issue last week was not fruitful.

    According to him, he was only following laid down procedures.

    He said “No no no. There are procedures in this matters and levels of authority. I am a stickler for procedure, I started at the right place and I have also ended up at the right place.”

    On how prepared he was for the rerun elections, he said “If they are going to do it now, we are ready. I don’t know who is afraid of anyone in Tafawa Balewa.

    Asked if he was confident to win the rerun election, he said “Insha Allah.”

  • APC, PDP claim victory in Benue, Kano, Bauchi, others

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership has spoken on the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)of working with the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP) to deny it its victory in some states.

    The party rejected the commission’s decision on the results from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, alleging that its agents were not invited to witness the investigations conducted by the commission.

    In a swift reaction, the PDP said the APC was playing the victim.

    Although APC’s candidate did not participate in the governorship election in Rivers State, its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said it was clear that Governor Nyesom Wike was losing before INEC halted the process. The results are being doctored to favour him, the party claimed.

    The APC said the process was fraudulently suspended in Rivers, adding that its reports of vote buying by the PDP and thuggery were ignored by the electoral management body.

    Besides, attempts are being made to blackmail the government into withdrawing security agents from the state, the party said.

    The statement reads: “After the March 9 governorship elections across the country, the polls in six states – Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto – were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The electoral process was also suspended in Rivers State in a very fraudulent circumstance.

    “Post election, Nigerians will recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had severally raised alarm over the plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use violence, vote-buying and other election malpractices to subvert the will of the electorate and steal their mandate.

    “The shocking events leading to the last-minute postponement of the presidential election provided clear evidence with PDP agents caught in different parts of the country with programmed card readers, sensitive election materials and large cache of weapons and security paraphernalia.

    “Undeterred, the PDP executed its rigging plot through its agents across the country by unleashing violence, vote-buying and hijacking election materials to rig and falsify elections results. The result was violent disruption in many polling areas and over-voting which led to many cancelled votes and ultimately the supplementary elections and suspended exercise in some states.”

    Using a state by state analysis, the APC said “INEC declared the governorship election in Benue State inconclusive, citing an insufficient margin in votes obtained by the APC candidate, Emmanuel Jime, and the PDP candidate, Governor Samuel Ortom.

    “Even though the PDP claims a bogus lead of over 81,000 votes, reports strongly establish that this dodgy figure is an aggregate of ‘votes’ obtained by subterfuge, not from the numbers recorded by the card reader. There were cases in Logo, Gwer-West, Vandeikya, Guma, Buruku and Gboko local governments where the card reader was not used.

    “In Guma, a local government predominated by the APC, zero votes were allocated to our candidate by thugs loyal to the governor of the State, as agents of the party were chased away and election material diverted and ballot papers thumb-printed for the governorship candidate of the PDP.

    “In Logo, security reports indicated that the ballot papers were massively thumb-printed the night before the election day, while a brazen case of under-age voting supervised by state government compromised security personnel, was prevalent on the actual day of voting. INEC also reported that 41 polling units in Vandeikya did not use the card reader, as it was the case in many in Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Gboko and other places.

    “A coalition of election observers in Benue has since called on INEC to declare the candidate of the APC, Barr. Emmanuel Jime, the winner of the governorship poll, in line with the Electoral Act and we align with the position of these observers. There is no doubt that our candidate obtained the highest number of legitimate votes with the usage of the card reader.”

    On Rivers State, the party condemned what it described as “this horrid dance in Rivers”, alleging an “unholy alliance between Governor Nyesom Wike, PDP and INEC is to prevent Rivers people from electing a candidate of their choice by imposing Wike, the PDP candidate on them.”

    The ruling party said “It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process apparently to save Wike from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

    “The desperation of the PDP governorship candidate, Governor Nyesom Wike to remain in office even if it means destroying the State and killing its people, is throwing the State into turmoil and crisis.

    “With regard to the governorship election in Rivers State, APC has observed with dismay the macabre dance between Wike and INEC in Rivers State. It is on record that Wike through the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga engaged PDP card-carrying members as Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Officers to skew the elections in favour of Wike and the PDP.

    “We call on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately redeploy Mr. Effanga from Rivers State in order to avoid crisis that may follow the organised crime being executed by Wike and Obo Effanga to rig and alter the result of the 2019 governorship polls in Rivers State in favour of Wike.

    “Since the suspension of the electoral process in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike and the State REC Obo Effanga have been re-writing and doctoring unit results in Rivers State Government House to favour Wike.

    “We are dismayed that some sponsored stakeholders including those who witnessed the killing of over 40 persons on the 2015 governorship election day alone due to someone’s quest to become governor by all means, appear to be hoodwinked by the very same character to believe that security agents especially the Army should have stayed away to allow a repetition of what happened in 2015.

    “As a party that was solely at the receiving end of the killings in Rivers State, the APC believes that the proactive steps taken by security agents to checkmate a repeat of the 2015 killings and destructions, is commendable and should be applauded by all peace-loving people.

    “We call on Nigerians and the international community not to be hoodwinked into believing that Nigerian security agencies interfered in the electoral process in Rivers State. It is a misleading narrative being planted in the media to particularly blackmail the military and the federal government into pulling out security agents from the state, thereby returning the State to the killing field many of us witnessed before, during and after the 2015 elections.

    “It is now clear to all that INEC has become deaf and blind to the fact that Governor Nyesom Wike invaded the Obio/Akpor Collation Centre with over 200 armed thugs and ordered his security men to shoot an Army Captain and another soldier providing perimeter security to the Collation Centre. Wike’s thugs carted away the electoral materials including both original copies of unit result sheets and ward collation sheets that were being used for the collation of results and took them to the Rivers State Government House where they were filled out with rigged and inflated figures.

    “We report that in most of the LGAs in the State, voting had concluded, results declared at the polling units and collation had begun before the abrupt suspension of the process. INEC does not have the power under our Electoral Act to suspend elections that has already been concluded. We suspect that INEC might be working to surreptitiously bring in cooked up results credited to Obio/Akpor LGA to skew the election in favour of Wike. We vehemently reject this anti-democratic move.”

    The party asked its members in Plateau state to remain focussed as its lead in the state was unassailable, expressing confidence that its candidate, Simon Lalong will eventually carry the day.

    The APC is also confidence that it will eventually carry the day in Kano state, saying “the opposition PDP camp in its self-deceit has continued to delude itself on its nonexistent electoral chance in Nasarawa local government area. The Kano electorate are not deceived.

    “Considering what happened in the inconclusive election widely characterized by PDP vote buying and voter intimidation, relevant agencies must ensure that such antidemocratic practice is not repeated.”

    It accused the Kano State Police Commissioner of actively assisting the opposition PDP to rig inside Kano city with the deployment of police security for Rabiu Kwankwaso loyalists while state commissioner’s orderlies were withdrawn.

    Kano, it said “remains an APC state. With the massive votes garnered by our presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari; the entire incoming 9th National Assembly positions – 3 Senators and 24 House of Representatives – won by the APC in Kano State; 27 State House of Assembly seats won by the APC out of 39 and governorship election victories in all local governments outside Kano metropolitan, there is no doubt that Kano State is a stronghold and key support base of the APC.

    “The APC’s visible achievements in Kano state under Governor Abdullahi Ganduje are enough to give the party an emphatic victory in the rerun election. Again, the rerun will be mostly in APC-controlled rural areas and Nasarawa local government area where our Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna is from. Undoubtedly, Kano state remains an APC stronghold and remains in our firm control.”

    Speaking further on the decision of INEC regarding the supplementary polls in Bauchi state, the APC said “We reject INEC’s decision on the governorship election results from Tafawa Balewa local government area in Bauchi State, as signed and announced by the electoral body’s National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

    “While the close relationship between Festus Okoye who chaired the fact-finding committee and Yakubu Dogara of the PDP is well known, hence inappropriate for the fact-finding exercise for Bauchi State, INEC has failed to adhere to the fundamental principle of fair-hearing by not inviting our agents during the hearing to ascertain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government election result.

    “INEC’s decision is illegal as the electoral body contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. We reiterate that according to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, the electoral body is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Centre by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose. Such decisions can only be reversed by a court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate.”

    The party is also laying claim to Sokoto State, saying “as displayed in the results of the presidential election, Sokoto is a strong APC state. This rubbishes the suspicious and apparently stolen results ascribed to the PDP governorship candidate.”

    APC accused the PDP candidate and Governor Aminu Tambuwal, of using thugs and fake security agents to scare voters in the state. This gave PDP agents a free and field day to rig and manipulate the governorship election. We are also aware of how huge funds were used to buy votes and how complicit INEC officials disenfranchised APC members by purporting that card readers stopped working in APC strongholds,” the party said.

    “The forthcoming supplementary election in Sokoto State gives the APC; our governorship candidate, Aliyu Ahmed and indeed the Sokoto electorate an opportunity to claim our mandate. Sokoto State is ready for the Next Level, we must not allow unpopular elements in the state and their backers in the discredited PDP to steal their mandate and subvert the will of the Sokoto electorate,” it added.

    The APC said it reported cases of over voting in Adamawa State and the use of security personnel to intimidate its agents and supporters, saying: “while we are confident of our party and candidate Governor Jibrilla Bindow’s victory ahead of the supplementary election in the state, we urge all stakeholders to avoid actions that can plunge the state into crisis”.

    “We equally urge INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure the supplementary election is free, peaceful and fair compared to the last inconclusive governorship election in the state which was characterised by many irregularities and voter intimidation. No political ambition is worth the life of any voters.

    “As a party, the APC is very confident of victory in the forthcoming supplementary elections. Our commitment to free and fair elections in the county remains resolute. We urge INEC to ensure that all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters by the PDP is blocked.”

  • INCONCLUSIVE POLLS:Who wins Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Benue Plateau?

    After 9th March 2019 Governorship and State Assembly Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared six state’s exercise inconclusive. This week, electoral body announced that it would hold supplementary elections in the affected states on 23rd March 2019. In this report, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports on how the extra elections would be fought and won

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced during the week that it will on March 23, 2019, conduct extra elections in the six states where the March 9 Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections were declared inconclusive. The affected states where the commission will be holding the supplementary polls are: Plateau, Sokoto, Bauchi, Benue, Adamawa and Kano.

    A statement on Tuesday by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said the commission met on Monday and reviewed the conduct of the 29 Governorship and 991 State Constituency Elections held across the country on the 9th of March 2019. The commission had declared winners in the governorship elections in only 22 states while the Returning Officers (ROs) in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states declared the elections inconclusive.

    “Consequently, the commission will conduct supplementary elections on Saturday 23rd March 2019 to conclude the process. Supplementary elections will also hold in polling units in all states where State Assembly elections were declared inconclusive and winners could not be declared,” Okoye said. Details of the constituencies including number of polling units and registered voters were published on the commission’s website last Wednesday, 13th March 2019.

    Expectedly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been bragging about their capacity to carry the day ahead of the March 23 Supplementary Elections to decide who will control power in the six aforementioned states. While the leadership of the APC has expressed its satisfaction with the decisions of INEC, the PDP is faulting the commission’s decision in some states like Sokoto, Adamawa and Benue.

    Both parties however vowed to win the re-run election billed for March 23 in all the states. While the APC now have control of 18 states following its victory in 13 of the 22 declared states, which is now added to the five states of Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and Osun already in its kitty, the PDP can boast of 10 states, adding nine newly won states to Bayelsa State. The two parties are now poised to increase their tallies by adding more states on March 23.

     

    SOKOTO

    In Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the PDP, who scored 489, 588, is leading his APC counterpart, Aliyu Sokoto, who garnered 486, 145 votes, with 3,413 votes. According to the details released by the electoral umpire, the two leading parties will on March 23, battle for 75,493 votes in 136 polling units in 22 local government areas of the state.

    Before the process was declared inconclusive, the two parties were laying claim to victory. But pundits say with over 75, 000 votes still at stake and the margin between Tambuwal and Sokoto standing at a meagre 3, 413, the March 23 election can tilt the final result of the governorship election in Sokoto state either way. “It is still too early to say precisely who will emerge the next governor of Sokoto state,” an analyst said.

    Factors being considered by pundits in putting the tag of ‘unpredictable’ on the ongoing contest in Sokoto State include the APC’s sterling performance during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the state and PDP’s unexpected comeback during the inconclusive Governorship and State Assembly polls. While the APC swept majority of the votes across the state in the earlier election, the PDP is leading in the latter with a slight margin.

    The presidential election results in Sokoto State showed that while President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC scored 490,333 votes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the opposition PDP got 361,604 votes to place second. The APC also won the three senatorial seats in the state and pocketed majority of the House of Representatives seats. But during the Governorship and State Assembly Elections, the PDP turned the table and took the lead.

    Consequently, with the margin so slim and the votes to contest for quite much, Sokoto State remains a battleground ahead of the March 23 extra election. Reliable sources in the state told The Nation that the final result of the election in the state will be determined by some very local issues that are of importance to the ordinary people of the state. “The people are voting based on their individual convictions as to which of the two leaders, Wammakko and Tambuwal, can better their lots,” a source explained.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    ADAMAWA

    Before the process was declared inconclusive in Adamawa, the PDP, with 367,471 votes as against APC’s 334,995, was leading by 32,476 votes. The candidates of the two parties have 40,998 votes to fight for. Incumbent Governor Jibrilla Bindow of the APC and his challenger PDP Umar Fintiri will be slugging it out on March 23. Convinced that it won the election outrightly on the first ballot, the PDP has been clamouring that it should be declared winner.

    On its part, the APC, realising that it has a hard task ahead of it, has been strategising on how to turn the table on March 23. But pundits say it is a herculean task that may be very difficult to carry out. With barely 41, 000 votes up for grab and the PDP already at advantage with 32, 471, in a state that was won by the opposition party during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, the APC may be unable to wrought any magic.

    During the Presidential Election, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar polled 412, 266 to defeat APC’s President Muhammadu Buhari, his closest challenger who scored 377,488. The results show a difference of 34,778 between them. Ironically, Buhari won 11 of the state’s 21 local government areas, while Abubakar picked the remaining 10. Earlier, the PDP presidential candidate had lost his polling unit to the APC.

    The PDP had also won two, out of the three senatorial seats in the state as well as majority of the House of Representatives seats. Ishaku Elisha Cliff of the PDP, clinched the Adamawa North senatorial seat while his party man, Yaroe Binos Dauda, emerged winner in Adamawa South. The ruling party, APC claimed victory only through Dahiru Aishatu Ahmed, who was declared winner in Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

    All these facts, and more, will be trailing both the PDP and the APC as they go to polls on March 23 to decide the final winner of the obviously keen contest. However, the APC remains disadvantaged. Aside from the huge deficit the party will be struggling to cancel, renewed infighting among its chieftains may also work against its victory at the supplementary election.

    Verdict: PDP

     

    BAUCHI

    Before INEC announced that it will, next Tuesday, be resuming collation of governorship election result in Bauchi State and may declare the winner of the poll, hitherto ruled as inconclusive, the planned re-run election in the state, earlier scheduled for March 23, from all available facts, as well as emerging indications from parts of the state where elections were to hold, remained too close to call. The PDP candidate Bala Muhammed, is currently enjoying a slight lead with 4,059 votes. At the end of the inconclusive first ballot, the PDP had 469,512 votes while the APC candidate, Governor Mohammed Abubakar, got 465,453 votes.

    According to INEC, There were 139,240 cancelled votes to that were to be contested for on March 23. The voters in the affected polling units were to decide the winner of the tense governorship contest in the northeastern state. Before the inconclusive election, opinion as to which party will win Bauchi remained divided. The state, before 2015, has been a stronghold of the PDP.

    While those banking on President Buhari’s popularity in the state predicted that Governor Abubakar will retain his seat, others, citing the local politics of the state as well as some failings of the Abubakar led APC administration, coupled with the growing popularity of the opposition PDP in the last few years, said it will be easier for the opposition party to displace APC at the gubernatorial election. Not even the victory of the APC at the presidential election changed their stance.

    Though the APC won the three senatorial seats and majority of House of Representatives slots in the state, the victory of Speaker Yakubu Dogara and a host of other PDP candidates in the state provided a platform for the opposition party to rally its forces ahead of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections. The improved performance of the PDP in the inconclusive polls, according to analysts, is a result of the local issues determining the people’s voting preferences.

    But the political scenario in Bauchi state changed once again when the electoral commission announced its latest decision concerning the guber election in the state in a press statement on Friday night reportedly after resolving some issues around the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and some polling units in Ningi local government.

    INEC did not state whether by the decision, the scheduled supplementary election on 23 March has been cancelled. According to INEC, the number of cancelled votes in four polling units in Ningi Local Government was 2,533 and not 25,330 as recorded. On Tafawa Balewa Local Government election result, where collation was disrupted by armed gangs, affecting 7 out of 11 registration areas for governorship and 6 out of 11 for state assembly elections, INEC said a committee set up, has found that the results in polling units and registration areas are “available and in safe custody”.

    INEC thus decided to resume the resumption and conclusion of the collation of results of the council area for both the governorship and state assembly elections A new collation and returning officer for Tafawa Balewa has been appointed “to continue and conclude the collation process in place of the original collation officer, who withdrew from the exercise citing threats to her life and those of her family members”. The threatened collation officer was Dominion Anosike.

    While INEC says result in Tafawa Balewa will be announced after collation, the PDP claims it garnered over 40, 000 votes in the L.G.A to APC’s less than 30, 000. It is however left to be seen if the party’s claim will tally with the result INEC will come up with. Head or tail, the governorship election in Bauchi state is a straight fight between incumbent Mohammed Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress and former minister, Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    BENUE

    At the end of the inconclusive gubernatorial election in Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom of the PDP got 410, 576. His closest rival, Emmanuel Jime of the APC got 329, 022 at the close of the first ballot. Going by the result released by INEC, PDP’s Ortom currently leads the governorship contest with 81,554 votes. The two frontline candidates will be slugging out for 121, 011 votes in the affected polling units across the state.

    But analysts say it is going to be very difficult for APC, which also lost the last Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the state to the PDP, to overturn the deficit and win the supplementary election. “PDP will most likely go ahead to consolidate its lead at the extra polls on its way to finally retaining the troubled state in its political kitty till 2023,” an analyst said.

    Before Governor Ortom moved over to the PDP last year, Benue State was controlled by the APC. But following incessant face-offs between Ortom and the leadership of his then party as well as the presidency over the herdsmen/farmers clashes in the state, Ortom defected to the PDP and picked its governorship ticket. Many prominent chieftains of the APC, including Senator Barnabas Gemade, also dumped the party.

    The presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had emerged winner of the Presidential Election in the state last month. The result, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Officer Prof. Sabastine Maimako, in Makurdi showed that President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC scored 347,668 vote, while Atiku scored 355,255 votes.

    Also noteworthy is the fact that during the presidential election, APC won in 10 Local Government Areas of the state, while PDP won in 13 Local Government Areas. The party also cleared all the three senatorial seats up for grab. Former Governor Gabriel Suswam emerged as the Senator for Benue North East, Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev for Benue North West and ex-Minister Patrick Abba Moro in Benue South.

    Majority of the State Assembly seats declared in the state are also now in the kitty of the PDP. The unexpected loss of the Benue North West seat by the APC leader in the state, Senator George Akume, disorganised the party ahead of the Governorship and State Assembly Elections. Though local issues like non-payment of workers’ salaries and lack of infrastructural amenities worked against the PDP and Governor Ortom, it appears the many killings and attacks suffered by the state decided how they voted.

    Verdict: PDP

     

    PLATEAU

    In Plateau State, incumbent Governor Simon Lalong of the APC got 583, 255 to lead Senator Jeremiah Useni of the PDP with 44,929 votes. Useni got 538, 326. The duo will be fighting for the outstanding 49,377 votes. But many analysts say the election is APC’s to win. With only 49, 377 votes to be contested for in the affected polling units, and APC already comfortably leading with 44, 929, the opposition party looks defeated already.

    Aside from its comfortable lead, the ruling APC also pocketed majority of the state assembly seats to show its acceptance across the state. The ruling party is also benefiting from the performance of Governor Lalong, which has been adjudged by many to be commendable, especially his ability to restore and maintain peace in the troubled parts of the North Central state. His relationship with civil servants in the state is also a plus for the ruling party.

    The current result of the governorship election which shows that APC is ahead of the PDP is a departure from what obtained at the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the state. Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP, won the presidential election in Plateau after scoring 548,665 votes. Atiku defeated his closest opponent, Muhammadu Buhari, of the APC, who scored 468, 555 votes. Atiku won in 11 local government areas while Buhari won in six LGAs of the state.

    Although the APC lost the state to the PDP during the presidential election and could only manage to win one of the three senatorial seats, with one declared inconclusive, observers of the politics of the state insist that APC looks good to win the governorship election in the end.

    Verdict: APC

     

    KANO

    Kano State is one of the states where supplementary election will be holding on March 23. There are 100, 873 votes to decide who wins the election. The PDP, with 1,014,474 votes, is in the lead while the APC, which got 987, 810, is trailing in second place. The margin in the scores of the two contenders stands at 26,664 votes. It is this calculation that informs the position of most pundits that the election is still very open for either the ruling APC or the opposition PDP to win.

    The turn of events in the Kano gubernatorial election is coming as a huge surprise to many watchers of the unfolding political drama, but analysts conversant with the voting pattern of the people of the Northwestern state say there’s nothing strange in what has happened. According to Istifanus Bako of the Centre for Democracy and Good Governance (CDGG), local issues are determining the ongoing voting patterns.

    Given that President Buhari of the APC recorded a landslide victory at the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the state, many pundits have given the Gubernatorial and State Assembly polls to the ruling party without batting an eyelid. The presidential candidate of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, defeated his opponent, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku of the PDP, with 1, 073, 175 votes.

    The APC Presidential candidate garnered 1, 464, 768 votes, to defeat the PDP candidate, who garnered 391,593 votes.

    The APC also pocketed the three senatorial seats in the state to drive home its landslide victory at the Presidential and National Assembly Elections. Former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau won the Kano Central Senatorial seat, Barau Jibrin emerged the senator in Kano North while another former governor, Gaya Ibrahim Kabiru, claimed the seat in Kano South.

    But during the inconclusive Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections, the tide changed as many voters opted to vote against Governor Abdulai Ganduje. Sources say the dollar scandal he got enmeshed in shortly before the general elections commenced has done a lot of damages to his popularity, especially among the ordinary people of the state. This appears to be working against him and the APC at the polls.

    The PDP governorship candidate in the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed confidence that he would emerge winner of the coming governorship re-run election in the state. Kabir-Yusuf, who is the son-in-law of PDP chieftain, Rabui Kwankwaso, says Kano people want a trustworthy leader. This is just as Governor Ganduje promised that the PDP will be shocked by the outcome of the re-run elections.

    Ganduje said he was unperturbed by the wishful thinking and slapdash deportment of the PDP candidate considering what happened in the inconclusive election widely characterized by alleged vote buying and voter’s intimidation by the party. The two parties, sources claim, are working round the clock in the affected areas to ensure that they get the votes needed to merge victorious on March 23. The March 23 supplementary election will take place in 210 Polling Units constituting 88 Registration Areas.

    Verdict: Battleground

  • INEC plans to cancel declared results in Bauchi, PDP alleges

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged moves by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel results already declared in the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections in Bauchi State.

    Bauchi is one of the six states where INEC declared the elections inconclusive, following the cancellation of results in the Tafawa Balewa local government area.

    Others states where the election was declared inconclusive are Benue, Kano, Adamawa, Sokoto and Plateau. INEC had fixed Mach 23 for supplementary election in the six states.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Friday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned the electoral body alleged attempts to tamper with the returned results or cancel already tallied results in 14 local governments, as declared by INEC.

    The main opposition party further warned the INEC to be mindful of the already charged atmosphere in Bauchi and the level of awareness among the electorate, stressing that any attempt to touch the already announced results will attract “serious consequences to the conspirators”.

    READ ALSO: PDP takes protest to INEC

    “Our party already have full information of plots by certain known top ranking officials of INEC, who have been bribed with huge sums of money by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to widen the scope of result cancellation beyond Tafawa Balewa to 14 more local government areas and hike the number of cancelled votes from 70,000 to 184, 555.

    “To achieve this, INEC has been instructed by the APC to cancel already declared results in 230 polling units in 15 LGAs, in the state, cause confusion and pave the way for the APC to manipulate the March 23 supplementary elections.

    “Seeing that our party, the PDP, and our candidate, Senator Bala Mohammed, are inevitably coasting to victory, being that Tafawa Balewa is home to the PDP, the APC is instructing INEC to cancel elections in more local governments where it plans to manipulate the processes and allocate fictitious results for the APC at the March 23 polls.

    “The PDP states that such a wicked plot cannot stand, as the people of Bauchi state have fully rallied themselves for a firm resistance”, Ologbondiyan said.

    The opposition spokesman said the PDP was already in possession of a leaked document from the Bauchi INEC office, which exposed details of the plot against the people of Bauchi state.

    Continuing, the PDP said, “This plot further justifies our stance that even the cancellation of Tafawa Balewa results was orchestrated by the APC and INEC in the ignoble bid to forcefully rob the people of Bauchi state of their choice of the PDP candidate, Senator Bala Mohammed, as their governor.

    “It is public knowledge that by the results delivered at the polling units, Sen. Bala Mohammed was already leading with over 4,000 votes after results of 19 LGAs were collated and announced.

    “With Tafawa Balewa LGA, where the PDP scored 40,000 valid votes against the APC’s 29,000, it is clear that our party won the election with about 15,000 votes, only for the results of the Tafawa Balewa LGA to be cancelled by INEC for no just cause.

    “The PDP invites Nigerians to note that Tafawa Balewa result was cancelled by the state Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, who unilaterally ruled that there was no result for the LGA even when the Collation Officer, Mrs. Dominion Anosike, had informed the commission that there was no any incident of cancellation, violence or electoral malpractices at both the polling unit and ward levels.

    “Though the PDP vehemently rejects the cancellation of Tafawa Balewa, we stand with the people of Bauchi state, in the determination to go to the supplementary election on March 23 and reinforce our candidate’s victory in Tafawa Balewa LGA. This is in addition to the resolve to vehemently resist any attempt by INEC to tamper with already declared results in the other 19 local governments of state.

    “The PDP therefore urges the INEC fact-finding committee headed by a National Commissioner to be guided by the extant rules as established in court rulings that the polling units is a base of our elections and that once declaration has been made at the polling units and return of votes established, INEC no longer has powers to influence the results from such polling units.

    “Finally, the PDP counsels the APC to accept its defeat not only in Bauchi state but also in Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano as well as Adamawa states, and end its shenanigans, as such will amount to naught.”