PDP, observers reject Katsina Rep by-election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State has vowed to challenge the result of the Mashi/ Dutsi House of Representatives byelection held at the weekend which was won by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP said INEC had erred by declaring the APC candidate as winner on the grounds that the election ought to have been declared inconclusive, giving the alleged “massive ballot box snatching and stuffing, intimidation of voters, as well as partisanship by police and INEC officials.”

The party’s state Chairman, Salisu Majigiri, at a press conference yesterday in Katsina, said the election was not conducted in 23 polling units because of alleged connivance of INEC officials with top government functionaries.

According to him, over 13,000 people were disenfranchised from voting last Saturday, which was similar to what happened in Kogi State where INEC declared the election inconclusive and wondered why Katsina was treated differently.

The PDP, therefore, resolved to challenge both the election and the eligibility of the APC candidate in court.

In a related development, the coalition of INEC accredited observer groups for the election said the by-election had betrayed democratic tenets because it was short of the ideal.

Their spokesperson, Chinyere Madueke, at a press conference in Katsina, said the election was not in any way credible or transparent and did not reflect the wishes of the electorate.