Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a supplementary election in five polling units of the Kaura Namoda South State Assembly constituency in Zamfara. The election is scheduled for August 21.
According to Dr. Mahmmud Isah, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, the supplementary election will take place in five polling units across Kyambarawa and Sakajiki registration areas. The initial bye-election results in these areas were cancelled due to alleged irregularities.
The affected polling units include three in Kyambarawa ward – Shiyar Magaji (kofar hamza) 002, Tukasu (sabuwar Kasuwa) 009, and Kofar fafa (shiyar fada) – and two in Sakajiki ward, namely Alko (shiyar kudu) 002 and Shiyar Nufawa (Kofar MD Nuhu) 007.
INEC declared the initial bye-election on August 16 inconclusive after cancelling the results from the five polling units. Prof. Lawal Sa’adu, the INEC Returning Officer, stated that the commission registered 5,446 voters in the two areas, with 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected.
After the cancellation, the results showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 5,339 votes. However, the margin between the two leading parties was 1,662, which is less than the 3,265 PVCs collected in the affected polling units.
INEC cited Sections 24 sub-section 2 & 3, Section 47 sub-section 3, and Section 51 sub-section 2 of the Electoral Act 2022 as the reasons for declaring the election inconclusive.
The supplementary election will determine the outcome of the Kaura Namoda South State Assembly constituency bye-election. INEC is working to ensure a smooth and transparent process, having registered the affected voters and distributed the necessary materials.
In Nigeria, bye-elections are often held to fill vacant positions in state assemblies or the federal legislature. The supplementary election in Zamfara is crucial in determining the representation of the Kaura Namoda South constituency.
INEC has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free and fair elections, adhering to the Electoral Act 2022. The electoral umpire has appealed to stakeholders, including party agents, observers, and voters, to cooperate in ensuring a peaceful and successful supplementary election.
As the supplementary election approaches, INEC has urged eligible voters in the affected polling units to come out and exercise their right to vote. The commission is working to ensure that the electoral process is transparent, credible, and in line with international best practices.
In Nigeria, the integrity of the electoral process is crucial to the health of the country’s democracy. INEC’s efforts to conduct a transparent and fair supplementary election in Zamfara are essential in maintaining public trust in the electoral process.
