The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday for declaring the state’s governorship election inconclusive. The party maintains that INEC erred in its decision, arguing that its governorship candidate, Dr. Nasir Idris, should have been declared the winner.
Alhaji Abubakar Gari, Deputy Director‑General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council in Kebbi and a retired Deputy Comptroller of Customs, condemned the ruling in Abuja. He asserted that there was no justification for labeling the election inconclusive, emphasizing that the APC candidate had won fairly and squarely.
According to INEC Returning Officer Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu, the results were declared inconclusive last week because of massive vote cancellation and over‑voting in 20 of the state’s 21 local government areas. He reported that the APC candidate scored 388,358 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party’s Mohammed Bande obtained 342,980 votes. Sa’idu explained that the total number of collected PVCs in the affected polling units amounted to 91,829, and the margin between the two leading parties was 45,278 votes—less than the number of cancelled votes—necessitating a re‑run.
Gari countered that the margin of 45,278 votes was substantial, noting that in other states candidates have been declared winners with far smaller differences. He argued that there was no need for a supplementary election, adding that even if one were held, the APC would likely increase its margin because the cancelled polling units are strongholds of the party.
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