The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency by-election in Zamfara State inconclusive.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Lawal Sa’adu of the Federal University, Gusau, announced the decision on Sunday, citing irregularities and cancellations of results from five polling units across Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards.
According to him, the affected polling units had a total of 5,446 registered voters, with 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected.
Announcing the results so far, Prof. Sa’adu said the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate scored 5,339 votes. The margin of lead between the two parties stood at 1,662 votes.
He explained that since the margin of lead was lower than the number of collected PVCs in the cancelled polling units, the election could not be concluded.
Citing Sections 24 (2 & 3), 47 (3), and 51 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Returning Officer stressed that under the law and INEC’s Manual for Election Officials, an election must be declared inconclusive in such circumstances until supplementary polls are held.
Giving a breakdown of the affected areas, Prof. Sa’adu said two polling units in Sakajiki Ward were cancelled, with 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 PVCs collected, while three polling units in Kambarawa Ward were cancelled, with 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 PVCs collected.
He further stated that INEC would announce a new date for the supplementary election to be conducted in the affected polling units.
