PDP Wins Again and Again

Uproar rose across the nation against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when it declared six governorship seats inconclusive in the aftermath of the March 9 governorship election. Not even the ardent defenders of the commission to could rise to its defense in the unfolding scenario. It was the biggest haul of the inconclusive scenario and a sort of embarrassment to the nation’s political development.

Election for Agaie House of Assembly constituency, Daily Independent learnt was declared inconclusive as a result of alleged electoral malpractices in two units of the local government and this counters earlier declaration by the electoral commission in the state. It was learnt that in the results so far announced by INEC, the APC candidate, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi had scored 17, 920 votes while the candidate of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Yahaya Abdullahi got 18, 026 votes.

Though the results were announced by the Returning Officer for the local government, Professor Musa G M Kolo, it was learnt that the declaration is being disputed between stakeholders hence INEC had fixed Saturday to conduct supplementary election in two units; Etsugaie polling unit-Jikpangi with 825 registered voters and Magaji Polling unit- at Wunadaganci with 612 registered voters.

Now, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced their decision to halt the rerun for the Niger state House Assembly elections in Agaie constituency. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Sam Egwu, yesterday, issued a press statement declaring the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Yahaya Abdullahi, as the winner of the election.

INEC said its decision was sequel to the earlier declaration of the PDP candidate winner of the election by the returning officer, Prof. Musa Kolo. The REC, in a statement he personally signed, said, “the rerun in two units has been dropped after due consultations with stakeholders.” This change in decision is coming a few days after the PDP had cried foul over the plan to conduct a supplementary poll in Agaie, insisting that its candidate, Alhaji Yahaya Abdullahi won the March 9th House of Assembly election, ‘clean and clear’.

However, in a swift reaction, APC chairman, Eng. Mohammed Jibril Imam said the commission’s decision declaring the PDP candidate winner was unacceptable. He said INEC erred in declaring the PDP candidate winner of the election it earlier said was inconclusive. Imam queried in a chat with reporters, saying, “Why should the commission take such critical decision when the votes difference in the results under contention were just 106, while the two units the rerun was billed to take place boast of 1,437 votes.”

Source: Naija News