The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Dr. Shem Zagbayi
Nuhu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Niger
East senatorial by-election.
Zagbayi,
who defeated Mr. David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the end
of both the by-election and the supplementary poll, scored 92,056 votes,
while David scored 87,405 votes.
The
returning officer, Wole Morenikeji, who made the announcement in Minna
yesterday, said the by-election to fill the vacant senate seat which was
first held on August 30, was inconclusive following irregularities in 21
polling stations across six of the nine local government areas that make up the
senatorial district which led to the supplementary election in the affected
areas at the weekend.
He
also stated that the APC recorded 2,716 as against the 2,416 votes polled by
the PDP in the supplementary election, adding that the summation of the two
elections showed that the candidate for the ruling party had 4,951 votes above
his main opponent to be returned as the winner of the by-election.
Meanwhile
the APC has rejected the result of the by-election, stating that it was
unacceptable.
It
added that the party was studying the results and would make its position known
soon.
According
to the Publicity Secretary of the party, in the state, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, “the
result of the election is unacceptable to the party. The party is currently
studying the result and will make its position known, but for now, the result is
unacceptable.
“Though
the party is yet to take a decision on the outcome of the by-election, all I
know for is that the result announced by INEC is not acceptable and in due
course the official position of the party will be announced.
“The
next line of action on the by-election will be taken after consultations at the
state level. We are also in touch with the national headquarters of the party
and our position will be made known soon.”
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Politics