The Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency election and the Zamfara central senatorial election were both ruled inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday.
In his declaration, Prof. Ahmad Galadima of the Federal University in Gusau, the returning officer for the central senatorial district of Zamfara, stated that the cancellation had an impact on 74 polling places from 19 registration areas in Bungude, Gusau, and Tsafe.
Galadima reported that 43,881 permanent voter cards had been collected in total, which is more than the margin of victory held by the two political parties receiving the most votes.
The Returning Officer reports that the PDP received 93,120 votes, followed by the APC with 79,444. With this lead margin of 13,676, the outcome can only be deemed to be inconclusive.
Also in his declaration, the Returning Officer of Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency, Dr. Aminu Dabai of the Department of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, said cancellation affected 38 polling units from both Gusau and Tsafe local government areas.
The votes from the seven registration areas have a lead margin between PDP and APC that is insignificant, looking at the total number of the PVCs collected.
He, therefore, declared the election of Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency inconclusive and INEC will communicate with the electorate on supplementary election.
In a related development, Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u of the APC won the Zamfara North senatorial district seat with total of 73,374 against his major opponent, retired Col. Bala Mande of the PDP, who scored 42,575 as announced by the Returning Officer, Prof Lawal Mayanchi of the Federal University Gusau.
Similarly, the Returning Officer of Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency, Dr Alhassan Mbaya, declared Aminu
Sani-Jaji of the APC as winner of the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji federal constituency seat.
He said, “Aminu Sani-Jaji, having scored the highest votes of 50,601 against PDP’s Sani Umar (20,438), is hereby declared as winner and returned elected. (NAN)
