Zamfara Bye-Election Declared Inconclusive by INEC, Reason Mentioned
- INEC has declared the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency bye-election in Zamfara State inconclusive due to cancelled results in key polling units
- The margin of lead between APC and PDP fell short of the number of collected PVCs in affected areas, prompting the decision
- A supplementary election will be scheduled in five polling units across Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards to determine the final outcome
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency bye-election in Zamfara State inconclusive, citing discrepancies between the margin of lead and the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in cancelled polling units.
Lawal Sa’adu, the INEC Returning Officer for the election and a lecturer at the Federal University Gusau, announced the decision following the cancellation of results from five polling units located in Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards.
Source: Twitter
According to Mr Sa’adu, the total number of registered voters in the affected polling units stood at 5,446, with 3,265 PVCs collected. He reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 5,339 votes, resulting in a margin of 1,662 votes.
Electoral act 2022 cited in INEC decision
Mr Sa’adu explained that the margin of lead was less than the number of PVCs collected in the cancelled polling units, which rendered the election inconclusive under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. He cited Sections 24 (2 & 3), 47 (3), and 51 (2) of the Act, as well as the Manual for Election Officials, to justify the decision.
He stated, “Based on 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 more than the number of collected PVCs in areas where elections were cancelled.”
Details of affected polling units
The Returning Officer provided details of the affected registration areas. Sakajiki Ward had two polling units cancelled, with 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 PVCs collected. Kambarawa Ward had three polling units affected, comprising 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 PVCs collected.
Mr Sa’adu concluded by declaring the election inconclusive and confirmed that INEC would announce a new date for the supplementary poll in the five affected polling units across Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards.
The electoral body has yet to release the date for the rerun, which will determine the final outcome of the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency bye-election.
Source: Twitter
Result of Kaduna Bye-Elections emerges
Legit.ng earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in all three bye-elections held on Saturday across Kaduna State, marking a significant political shift in areas previously dominated by the opposition.
The elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saw the APC overturn long-standing strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly in Chikun and Kajuru.Breakdown of result for the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency, APC candidate Felix Bagudu secured a commanding lead with 34,580 votes. His closest rival from the PDP garnered 11,491 votes, placing a distant second.
Source: Legit.ng
