BYE-ELECTION: INEC declares Kaura Namoda South, Zamfara exercise inconclusive

By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kaura Namoda South’s State Constituency bye-election in Zamfara State inconclusive.

The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Lawal Sa’adu of Federal University Gusau, announced that the declaration followed cancellation of results from some polling units in Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards.

Professor Sa’adu, said the total number of registered voters in the affected polling units is 5,446, while 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected in those areas.

He explained that, the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 5,339 votes, leaving a margin of 1,662 votes.

Professor Lawal Sa’adu said that, the margin is less than the total number of PVCs collected in the cancelled polling units, hence the election cannot be concluded.

Citing the Electoral Act 2022 and the Manual for Election Officials, the Returning Officer said that, where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates is not in excess of the number of collected PVCs in areas where elections were cancelled or not held, the Returning Officer shall decline to declare a winner until supplementary elections are conducted.

He explained that, two registration areas were affected by the cancellations which are Sakajiki Ward, with two polling units affected, having 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 PVCs collected”

While Kambarawa Ward, with three polling units affected, having 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 PVCs collected.

Professor Sa’adu therefore declared the election inconclusive, pending the conduct of a supplementary poll in the affected polling units.