Sokoto holds state assembly by-election
The Tureta constituency of Sokoto State yesterday held a by-election into the state House of Assembly. Chairman of Tureta Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Tureta, expressed optimism that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would emerge victorious.
Tureta said all the 15 political parties, excluding the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, withdrew their candidates and pledged support for the APC. “We don’t have any opposition and as such the victory is ours,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the way INEC conducted the election which he described as peaceful and hitch-free.
He also expressed appreciation to the people of the area for turning out en mass to exercise their constitutional right, assuring that the APC government in the state would not let them down.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of the North-West, Hajiya Amina Zakari, who was represented by Alhaji Yunusa Jikan Kura, said the election commenced at exactly 8am.
He added that the PDP did not field any candidate in the election for “reasons best known to them”.
In his remarks, the Assistant Police Commissioner in charge of Metro Area Command, Mr. Ibitoye Olajide, commended voters for their conduct during the election.
Olajide said two policemen were stationed at each polling unit and that officers went round to make sure the election was hitch-free.
It would be recalled the candidate of the PDP, Jazuli Liman, earlier withdrew from the race to join the APC.
The by-election followed the resignation of Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, former Deputy Speaker from the state assembly after his election as chairman of Tureta Local Government Area.