On Monday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the gubernatorial election in Kebbi State as “inconclusive”.
The election was closely contested by the two main political parties in the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The Collation and Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, made the position of the electoral umpire known at the collation center at INEC headquarters in Birnin Kebbi.
He said there were cancelations in 20 of the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi State cutting across a number of registration areas (RAs) in different polling units.
“We aggregated the total number of collected PVCs in those polling units and it came to a total of 91,829.
“And when we checked the result, the two leading political parties in this contest, APC and PDP polled 388,258 and 342,980 votes respectively. When we look at the difference it stands at 45,278.”
Professor Sa’idu noted that they had no option but to refer to the electoral laws on page 31 of the electoral Act 2022, section 51 sub-sections two and three for guidance.
According to him, the law reads: “Where the number of votes cast in an election in any polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters in that polling unit, the presiding officer shall cancel the result of the election in that polling unit.
“Sub-section three of section 51 also states that where the result of an election is canceled in accordance with sub-section two, there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in the affected polling unit.
“By virtue of these provisions and the powers vested in me as the collation and returning officer of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kebbi State, I Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, hereby declare the gubernatorial election in Kebbi State inconclusive.” He said.
