By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the ongoing collation exercise for the Governorship elections conducted in Niger State has been delayed over the absence of results from a registration area in the Rijau local government area of Niger State.
This online platform reports that the collation officer in the area, Prof. Isah Abubakar informed the States INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Clement Alawa that the results of three polling units in Tungan Magajiya RA could not be compiled due to disruption to the voting process.
Abubakar explained to the commission that the electorates had threatened to burn down the local government collation center with the INEC staff in it due to the hitches experienced.
Abubakar stated that the political parties who participated in the election had agreed to the cancellation of the results from two polling units while one was still under contention.
“We were under siege yesterday. They said we had to complete the result and announce or they were threatening to burn down the LGA collation center with us in it.
“The people insisted that fresh elections be conducted in those areas. A letter was written in that regard stating that the election will be declared inconclusive.
“Right now, our result is incomplete,” he said.
Abubakar said that the military had to intervene and escort the staff out of the local government on Saturday evening to safety.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, observed that since the results were not signed by any party agents from all of the political parties who participated in the exercise, the result was against the provisions of the electoral act.
“We have guidelines. It’s not about sentiments, the guidelines are clear; elections are held in a locality, and elections are declared and signed in that locality.
“We have a result not declared in that locality. He has no power to come and declare it in Minna here. We should be truthful to ourselves. How can we take an election result not signed?” Kutigi said.
The agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC), present at the center, Muhammad Gbangba however objected to the PDP’s stance on the validity of the results.
“This is just three PUs. The only contention is these units, I don’t think it will invalidate our votes.” Gbangba said.
In his verdict, the state returning officer directed that the results be reconciled and separated.
On the validity of the results, Alawa said “While the party agents did not sign, I am sure that they have the scores. Not signing doesn’t mean the results are being disputed but only because of this one RA.
“If you have 11 RA’s with the results from 10 RA’s, you should present the results from the 10.
“This alone won’t invalidate what we are doing. When we get to the compilation of votes, we can make the final decision,” he said.
