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Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
Governor Aminu, Waziri Tambuwal, of Sokoto State has condemned the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pronounce the governorship election in the state as an inconclusive exercise.
The governor while addressing journalists in Sokoto on Monday, also threatened to challenge the electoral umpire in court if it goes ahead to conduct a rerun election in the state.
Tambuwal who backed his claims with Section 179 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution, said that INEC might have erred in its decision to pronounce the governorship election inconclusive.
His words: “I will like to point out to the fact that until now, we have not been told the reason why it remained inconclusive because it is expected that if there will be a rerun, the reasons for that must be communicated to parties involved.
“Also, in INEC’s guideline, there are about ten factors you must consider. For instance, if there is violence, you are not expected to go back there for a rerun; if the card reader malfunctions you only record zero votes.
“In this case, the constitution is very clear especially Section 179 (2) which stated how to conduct governorship election, and what is expected, but we are surprised that INEC is coming up with this at this stage.
“Even in the Electoral Act, there is no provision for inconclusive election. So, we don’t know where they draw this guideline from neither from the constitution nor from the Electoral Act itself.”
The governor, however, urged the INEC to uphold the trust reposed in them by Nigerians by saying: “I believe there is a need for INEC to review its decision and declare the winner of the election. And the winner is very clear to everybody.
“We have got the highest number of votes. We have also got two-third in virtually all the 23 local government councils of the state. So what is left is for INEC to come back and uphold the provision of the constitution.
“I believe there is a lot for INEC to do and therefore call on it to do the needful by declaring the winner.
“The trend in the country is very obvious from Adamawa to Bauchi states. Every sound mind can read what is happening.
“Prof Mahmood Yakubu has a name to protect. Every member of INEC also has their names to protect; I believe they should not be seen to be one-sided. They shall uphold the trust reposed with them by Nigerians. I believe we have won the election in Sokoto State and there is a need for INEC to do the needful,” Tambuwal stated.
Tambuwal, a lawyer by training, noted that the explanation given by INEC on the inconclusive elections could not be founded in any Law book. “The explanations given by INEC on inconclusive elections nowadays need to be tested in court.”
He, however, commended the people of the state for coming out and voting massively for his party which according to him, had given the party majority votes to lead in the poll. The governor noted that all these were achieved because of the trust and confidence reposed in his government.
It would be recalled that the INEC through its Returning Officer, Prof. Fatima Mukthar, had on Sunday while declaring the results of the governorship election said that the exercise remained inconclusive. She noted that the margin of votes between the leading candidate was lower than the number of canceled votes due to irregularities recorded in 22 local government areas during the exercise.
