The Kaura Namoda South State Constituency by-election in Nigeria’s Zamfara State has been declared inconclusive following reports of irregularities and procedural disruptions at polling units. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the decision on Saturday, halting the final tally after votes cast fell short of resolving a narrow margin between the two leading political parties.
Prof. Lawal Sa’adu, the Returning Officer and a lecturer at Federal University Gusau, stated that the gap between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stood at 1,662 votes. The APC secured 7,001 votes, while the PDP trailed with 5,339. However, this margin was deemed insufficient to conclude the election, as 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected across five canceled polling units—a figure surpassing the vote difference. The cancellations stemmed from reported irregularities, including logistical challenges and procedural violations.
Affected areas included two polling units in Sakajiki ward, where 1,298 PVCs were collected, and three units in Kyambarawa ward, with 1,964 registered voters. Collectively, the disputed zones accounted for 5,446 registered voters. Under Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022, elections are declared inconclusive when the margin of victory is less than the number of voters in areas where ballots were invalidated, necessitating a rerun to determine the final outcome.
INEC emphasized its adherence to legal protocols, confirming that a fresh vote in the canceled units would be required before final results could be validated. The commission pledged to announce a new date for the rerun “in due course,” though it did not specify timelines. The announcement underscores ongoing challenges in Nigerian electoral processes, where logistical hurdles and disputes over voter access frequently delay outcomes.
The APC and PDP, Nigeria’s dominant political forces, have yet to issue formal statements on the development. The by-election, held to fill a vacant seat in Zamfara’s State Assembly, has drawn attention to voter turnout dynamics and the impact of procedural disputes on electoral credibility. Analysts note that Zamfara, a state in northwestern Nigeria, has historically experienced political tensions, occasionally marked by violence during elections.
INEC’s decision reflects a broader emphasis on compliance with electoral guidelines introduced in the 2022 reforms, which aim to enhance transparency. The rerun will likely test the commission’s capacity to address irregularities while maintaining public confidence in contested regions. For now, voters in the affected wards await clarity on when they will return to the polls to conclude the unresolved race.
