The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Sunday that the House of Representative by-election in Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing constituencies of Taraba state was declared inconclusive. The Returning Officer, Prof. Daniel Ayuba, revealed this after the collation of results from the three local government councils comprising the constituency in Jalingo.

Alhaji Tafida Sadiq, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), secured a total of 17,214 votes, while Mr. Innocent Jabayang of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the first runner-up, garnered 15,537 votes, leaving a margin of 1,677 votes between them. Prof. Ayuba explained that according to the current electoral laws, if the margin of victory is less than the total number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the areas where the election was cancelled, the result cannot be declared.

Considering the margin of victory is less than the total number of collected PVCs in the areas where the election did not hold or was cancelled, which is 14,759, the election was deemed inconclusive. Therefore, a rerun will be conducted in the respective areas between the candidate with the highest votes and the first runner-up.

The bye-election was conducted on Saturday to fill the vacant seat left by the late Ismaila Maihanchi, who emerged as the winner of the February 2023 general election but passed away before the commencement of the 10th National Assembly.