Inconclusive poll: Tambuwal rejects INEC’s decision ..We accept verdict-Sokoto APC guber candidate

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has rejected the declaration of the state’s governorship poll as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission

He urged the commission to declare him the winner of the election.

The election was declared inconclusive by INEC as the number of votes cancelled was higher than the winning margin.

Tambuwal, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading by 3,413 having scored 489,558 votes; while Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) got 486,145 votes.

But the number of votes cancelled from across the 136 polling units in 22 local government areas was 75,403.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the governor said there was nothing like inconclusive election in the constitution.

“It is not founded in the constitution and there is a need for it to be tested in the court of law, “he said

The governor noted the need for the electoral body to reconsider its decision.

According to him, the constitution is explicit about the winner of the election, quoting Section 179 (2) of the constitution.

“We will not allow anybody to subvert the mandate of our people. Every member of INEC has his name to protect,” he said.

He called on his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, urging them to come out en masse during the rerun election to reaffirm their victory.

Reacting, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Sadiq Musa, yesterday said the decision to declare the election inconclusive was lawful and in line with the election guidelines.

“Elections in the 136 polling units were cancelled because there were violence, wilful destruction of voting materials and manhandling of our staff and the number of votes cancelled is much higher than the winning merging. It can significantly change the result.

“So, it is not concocted by INEC. INEC is empowered by the constitution to provide guidelines for elections and there is procedure for declaring election inconclusive,” he said.

The governorship candidate of the APC, Ahmed Aliyu, yesterday said his party accepted the declaration of the election inconclusive by the Independent

Commission.

Addressing journalists in Sokoto, Aliyu said the places affected were APC strongholds such as Gada, Kebbe and Goronyo where, according to him, the party won with a large margin.

Ahmed alleged that APC supporters were harassed, intimidated and attacked by fake security agencies recruited by the ruling party in the state.

On insinuations that election was being declared inconclusive only in areas where PDP was leading, he recalled the election in the Bodinga-Dange Shuni-Tureta Federal Constituency where the APC candidate was leading with over 3000 votes was also declared inconclusive as the number of votes cancelled was close to 4,000.

“The action of the Chief Returning Officer, who declared the election as inconclusive, was in line with the nation’s constitution, as well as the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended,” he said.

He added: “We have since directed them to embark on immediate, massive mobilization of our supporters and the patriotic electorate in readiness for the forthcoming rerun elections in 139 polling units in 22 local government areas of Sokoto at a later date to be fixed by INEC.” National Electoral