APC sweeps Gombe LG polls

The Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) has declared the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of local council elections conducted yesterday by the commission.

Chairman of the commission, Saidu Shehu Awak, declared that all candidates fielded by the APC have returned elected as chairmen and deputy chairman of the 11 LGAs, as well as councillors for the 114 councillorship seats.

According to him, the election was held peacefully across all the polling units in the 11 LGAs of the state.

Awak stated that the election was contested by five political parties, but couldn’t win a single seat, adding that the APC also won all the 114 councillorship seats unopposed.

Meanwhile, it was observed that the election was conducted symbolically in a few selected polling units in the state.

While the electoral materials were not delivered in majority of polling units in Gombe metropolis and other neighbouring towns and villages, in most of the polling units visited, it was observed that neither electoral officers from the (GOSIEC) nor the voters turn up for the election.

In the few polling units where the voting took place, only few people were on queue to cast their votes, with most of the state residents going about their normal activities.

Most of the polling units in Nasarawo, Yelenguruza, Tudun Wada, Bolari, Pantami and some communities, as observed by our correspondent, appeared empty with no sign of an election taking place throughout the election period.

Also, there was no restriction of movement as commercial activities were conducted as usual in the two major markets in Gombe metropolis, while shops and other businesses were opened for their daily businesses.

However, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya cast his votes at the Yahaya Umaru 10 polling unit in the premises of Government Science Secondary School, Gombe.

Also, the Deputy Governor, Dr Manasseh Daniel Jatau, voted at his polling unit in Balanga LGA, while the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo also casted his votes in his ward in Akko LGA of the state.