The All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) recorded various victories in the rerun held across 26 states though it was, on Saturday, marred with irregularities in some polling units forcing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reschedule the exercise in Enugu, Kano and Plateau.
In Kaduna, one person was killed during the election held on Saturday at Rigachikun ward of Igabi local government area.
The deceased, Mansur Shafius was killed in his attempt to prevent thugs from snatching ballot boxes during the election.
An eyewitness, in an interview, said: “In trying to prevent them, one of the thugs brought out a knife and stabbed him.”
Kaduna State Police Command confirmed that political thugs were responsible for the death of Mansur during the rerun.
Confirming the death of Shafiu, the police image maker, Mansir Hassan said in an interview that political thugs stormed the polling unit at Tsohon Garin, Rigachiku and stole some election materials.
Hassan remarked that the deceased was standing in front of his shop when he was hit by a stray bullet.
He said: “The thugs shot the victim in the leg, after which he was rushed to the hospital where he died from gunshot injuries.”
In protest against the killing, youths, as early as 8am on Sunday barricaded the Kaduna/Zaria road, leading to gridlock on the highway and causing motorists to be stranded.
Afterwards, however, the military was invited to clear the road.
It was gathered that Mansur was buried on Sunday morning according to Islamic injunctions.
Reacting to his death, a member of the House of Representatives from the constituency, Hussaini Jallo described the death of his supporter as unfortunate.
He said, in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday: “Let me pay a special tribute to Mansur Shafiu who was shot dead while trying to exercise his franchise, we will surely not allow this act of barbarism to go unpunished.
“We will engage the Nigeria police force to launch an immediate full-scale investigation with a view to fishing out the perpetrators of this killing and the deliberate attacks meted on voters during our election that led to snatching of ballot boxes in Rigachikun, Unguwar Yelwa Birinin Yero, Kwarau, Mando and Joga by hired thugs to face justice.”
In the meantime, David Tanko of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the Chikun constituency seat for the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
As declared by the Returning Officer, Professor Jamilu Ya’u of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, on Sunday, Tanko polled 18, 566 votes to defeat Mrs Maria Samuel-Dogo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 10,903 votes.
Ya’u said Adumu Solomon of Labour Party (LP) came third with 3,285 votes.
Plateau: INEC suspends electoral officer over missing ballot papers
The INEC has suspended the electoral officer for Jos North Local Government Area, Mr Fred Ogboji, over missing ballot papers in Saturday’s rerun.
This was contained in a statement by the state Head of Department of Electoral Operations, Mr Isah Idakwo, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), on Sunday, in Jos.
He directed the electoral officer to step aside to give room for a proper investigation.
The statement read: “You are directed to step aside from office to enable the commission to carry out a proper investigation into the circumstances that led to the missing House of Representatives ballot papers in 16 polling units in your local government area.
“You are further directed to hand over to Mr Elekwa Onyemauche, the local government supervisor, and the two registration area supervisors of Tudun Wada Kabong and Naraguta B to coordinate and complete the remaining process.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that INEC on Saturday rescheduled election in 16 polling units of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency following the discovery that some ballot papers were missing.
Dr Oliver Agundu, the state REC, said in a statement that the election was rescheduled for Sunday, February 4.
Agundu said that voting would commence at 9:30 am and end at 3:30 pm.
The REC stated that the commission discovered on the eve of the rerun that the ballot papers for 16 polling units in Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency had gone missing.
He said that the matter had been referred to the security agencies for investigation.
Meanwhile, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) is leading in five of the six local government areas in the Plateau North Senatorial re-run held on Saturday, according to official results received.
The Returning Officer for the exercise, Professor Nestor Chagok, announced that the ADP candidate, Mr Pam Dachungyang, was leading with 91,184 votes.
The APC candidate, Mr Chris Giwa, followed with 31,183, while the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr Gyang Zi, had 20,395 votes.
The results showed that ADP won in all the five LGAs: Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos South, Jos East and Riyom.
A breakdown of the results showed that in Barkin Ladi, ADP polled 19,663, APC got 4,700 and LP 7,989.
In Jos South, ADP got 38,605, APC 11,416 and LP 6,638 while in Jos East, ADP got 7,750, APC 2,817, and LP 2,725.
In Riyom, ADP polled I2,130 votes, APC 4,342, LP 1,942, while in Bassa, ADP polled 13,036 votes, APC 7,908 and LP 6,101.
The outstanding result for Jos LGA was still being collated at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Professor James Damen, has announced that the LP Candidate, Mr Daniel Asama, was leading in the only local government, where the election took place in the constituency.
According to the result as announced by Daniel, LP scored 22,963 to lead PRP with 6,074 and APC 4,782.
ICPC apprehends five with N3.3m cash
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed that its officials who monitored Saturday’s bye-elections arrested five suspected vote-buyers in whose possession the sum of N3, 605,400 was discovered.
The anti-graft agency stated on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @icpcnigeria, that the suspected vote buyers were arrested at two polling units in Adamawa and Sokoto State.
According to the tweet, three men, aged 37, 38 and 48 years, respectively, were nabbed at a polling unit in Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency in Sokoto State.
The suspects were caught with the sum.of N3,105,400 at the time of their arrest.
It further disclosed that two other suspects were arrested within the vicinity of Yelwa Primary School in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State with the sum of N500,000.
The money, ICPC disclosed was suspected to be for vote buying during the bye elections.
It, however, stated that all the suspects were in custody while investigations were ongoing in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adamawa: PDP wins Mayobelwa constituency
Musa Kallamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won Saturday’s Mayobelwa 2 state constituency rerun.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Mohammed Baba-Ardo declared this on Sunday in Mayobelwa.
Baba-Ardo, said that Kallamu scored 13,06 votes to beat Ibrahim Italiya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 874 votes.
He said Kallamu won in six out of the seven polling units where the rerun was conducted.
Kebbi: APC wins Dandi/Arewa federal constituency
In Saturday’s rerun, the INEC declared Alhaji Rabiu Garba-Kamba as winner of the election for Dandi/Arewa Federal Constituency in Kebbi.
The Returning Officer, Professor Aliyu Abdullahi-Turaki, made the declaration in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area, on Sunday.
He said Garba-Kamba of the APC polled 32,432 votes to defeat his Abdullahi Umar-Kamba of PDP who polled 31,858 votes.
The Returning Officer, Professor Abbas Yusuf declared Umar Garba-Uba, as winner of the rerun for Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski federal constituency.
Yusuf-Bazata of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), said Garba-Uba of the APC polled 54,885 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Garba Hassan of PDP who at presstime on Sunday, received 16,652 votes.
Kano: NNPP wins two seats
The INEC declared Alhaji Bello Muhammad Butu-Butu of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) the winner of Saturday’s rerun for Rimin Gado/Tofa state constituency, and Dr Alhassan Zakariya Ishaq also of the NNPP as the winner of Saturday’s rerun election for Kura/Garun Malam state constituency in Kano.
The returning officer for the election, Professor Ibrahim Tajo Suraj declared that Alhaji Bello Muhammad Butu-Butu of NNPP polled 31,135 votes to beat his opponent of APC who had 25,577 votes.
Similarly, Professor Shehu Musa Galadanchi declared that Dr. Ishaq of NNPP polled 37,262 to beat Musa Hayatu Daurawar of the APC who scored 30,803 votes.
Bauchi: Ex-Speaker declared winner of Ningi rerun
Immediate past Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman has been declared winner of the rerun for Ningi State constituency.
The declaration was made by the INEC Returning Officer for the rerun, Professor Ahmed Abdulhamid at the INEC office in Ningi.
Abdulhamid declared that Suleiman of the PDP polled a total of 11,785 votes to defeat his closest opponent of the APC, Khalid Captain Ningi.
Sokoto: APC, PDP record victories
The INEC declared the candidate of the APC, Dahiru Ahmed, as winner of Saturday’s re-run for Tambuwal West House of Assembly seat of Sokoto State.
The Returning Officer, Professor Bayero Kasim, said Ahmed won the election with a total number of 19,315 votes, defeating candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Romo, who polled a total of 19,021 votes.
Meanwhile, INEC also declared Magaji Abubakar of PDP as the winner of Bodinga North State House of Assembly seat with a total of 6,488 votes.
The Returning Officer, Professor Faruk Tambuwal, said Abubakar defeated his close rival, Yusuf Danchadi of APC, with a total of 5,893 votes.
Ondo: APC’s Ehindero declared winner
The INEC has declared the APC candidate, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, as winner of the Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency bye-election in Ondo State.
Announcing the result, the INEC Returning Officer, Professor. Johnson Fasinmirin, said the APC candidate polled 35,504 votes while the PDP candidate, Mean Bada scored 15,328 votes.
Meanwhile, Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has congratulated Ehindero on the victory in the bye-election.
The governor, in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, commended the tenacity of the Ehindero, hailing him for running an impressive campaign ahead of the election.
Yobe: APC wins senatorial bye-election, defeats PDP
Musa Mustapha of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared as winner of the Yobe East senatorial bye-election.
The Returning Officer of the election, Ibrahim Ahmed Jajere, declared that the APC candidate polled a total of 68,778 votes to defeat Aji Kolomi of the PDP who polled a total of 18,878 votes.
Mustapha, a former Commissioner of Finance, Transport and Energy in Yobe state replaces the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Geidam who is currently the Minister of Police Affairs.
Anambra: INEC declares YPP candidates winners
Two members of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Peter Uzokwe of Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituency and Chinwe Nnabuife of Orumba North and South federal constituency, were declared winners of the rerun held in Anambra State on Saturday.
INEC returning officer, Professor Charles Nweke declared both Uzokwe and Nnabuife winners of their respective Constituencies, at the INEC office in Nnewi North Local Government Secretariat, on Sunday.
Uzokwe polled 25,518 votes to defeat the current member representing the federal constituency of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Uchenna Elodimuo, who scored 25,412 votes, thereby winning the Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituency.
Similarly, Nnabuife, polled a total of 14,416 votes to defeat her closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Okwudili Ezenwankwo, who scored 13,087 votes, to win the Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituency.
Declaring the winners, Nweke announced that the YPP candidate, Uzokwe polled 25,518 votes to emerge winner, while Elodimuo scored 25,412 votes.
