By Tayo Alabi, Abuja
The inconclusive bye election declared by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have precipitated political tension in Zamfara state.
Recall, the returning officer for the bye election, Professor Ibrahim Magawata declared the poll inconclusive, in the early hours of Sunday, saying the election results of some polling units in Bakura ward have been cancelled.
Justifying the cancellation, he said the cancelled poling units have a total number of 11,429 votes, adding that the difference between the PDP candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Tudu score of 18645 votes, and the APC candidate,Alhaji Bello Dankande Gamji who scored 16464, translate to 2181.
Corroborating the decision by Magawata, INEC, National Commissioner and Chairman,Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq emphasised that the returning officer declared the result inconclusive in line with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections.
Specifically, Okoye said “the election for Bakura State Constituency became inconclusive because the 2,181-vote margin between the two leading candidates – those of the PDP (18,645 votes) and APC (16,464) – is less than the total number of registered voters in 14 Polling Units where elections were cancelled or not held, which stands at 11,429. Consequently, by the “margin of lead principle”, the election could not be declared and no winner was returned”.
But following the INEC verdict and the rerun scheduled for Wednesday, 9th December, the gladiators held each other by the jugular.
Indeed, former governor of Zamfara state and the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar has threatened that the APC may not participate in the scheduled rerun if security is not guaranteed.
In the same vein, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also passed a vote of no confidence on the INEC returning officer, Magawata.
Yari who spoke with newsmen after a meeting of the APC stakeholders at his residence in Talata Mafara town accused governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle and top government functionaries of Zamfara State of conniving with some security personnel to manipulate the bye election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He accused the Senator representing Zamfara West, Senator Lawal Hassan Daniya, a member house representative Kabiru Amadu Maipalace, PDP State Chairman, Tukur Danfulani of aiding and abetting thugs in multiple ballot box snatching.
Yari also accused commissioners of Finance Rabiu Garba, that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Yahaya Chado, and commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Yarkofoji of ballot box snatching during the bye election which was declared inconclusive.
The former governor posited that if proper arrangements are not put in place by the security agencies that will ensure that the safety of APC members and supporters are guaranteed, the party will not risk the lives of its members and supporters to participate in the conclusion of the election on Wednesday.
“What happened on Saturday cannot be described as an election but a sham. It is very unfortunate that the security agencies who are supposed to ensure peaceful conduct of the election are those who were aiding and abetting top government functionaries and PDP members to snatch ballot boxes.
“If this is still what is going to happen during the rerun, we APC will not participate because what we want is free and fair election and not the political rascality displayed by the PDP government on Saturday,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock over statement by the returning officer, Professor Ibrahim Magawata during the last bye-election in the state
The party has passed a vote of no confidence on the returning officer.
Addressing a press conference in Gusau, chairman PDP committee on Bakura state constituency bye election, Senator Lawal Hassan Daniya bemoaned that the returning officer has reportedly showed partisanship.
“The statement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer in last Saturday’s bye-election in the Bakura Constituency of Zamfara State, Prof. Ibrahim Magatawa revealed his is partisan” Daniya said.
Senator Daniya alleged that the INEC returning officer’s statement has indicated his desire to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) undue advantage in the planned re-run supplementary bye election.
Reacting to specifics, some chieftains of the PDP described the former governor’s allegations as a sign of defeat.
Senator Daniya representing Zamfara West Senatorial District at the 9th Senate said the former governor from all indications is seeking for cheap public sympathy.
“It is important here for every democracy lover to condemn the attitude of the APC in recruiting thugs, especially from the Zuru area of Kebbi State through Bukkuyum to Dakko and Damri wards who willfully and wantonly came and unleashed mayhem in the elections.
“Our major concern however, was the use of officials in uniform to protect the misdeeds of violators of the law. We have noted with dismay how some security operatives turned a blind eye to the activities of thugs and went on to provide cover and protection to their sponsors against perceived violence,” he alleged.
Senator Daniya said despite the cancellation of elections in 14 polling units, the PDP squarely won the polls.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Rabiu Garba said the accusations by former governor Yari was lamentable considering how APC was claiming that the PDP was going to loose the bye election.
“It is very unfortunate and pathetic that a governor for 8 years would go on air to be telling lies about what does not happen simply because he has seen great defeat. He should as a politician accept defeat and prepare for future instead of disgracing himself with these lies,” Garba said.
According to Garba the threat by Yari to pull out of the Wednesday’s rerun was a way of dogging political humiliation.
“Tell him not to run away, he should continue because it is too late for him now to be considering not participating in the rerun on Wednesday” Garba said.
Additionally, the expectation in Zamfara state, no doubt is very high as the clock tick to Wednesday. However the question on the lip of political watchers is where the pendulum would swing after the rerun.
On the surface, it is a mere bye election rerun, but beyond that, it is a contest between Yari and Matawalle.
