Results for 24 out of the 28 states that participated in last Saturday’s governorship polls have been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) had a historic win at Kano state. The over-20-year-old party claimed its first governorship seat through the victory of its standard-bearer Abba Kabir, a mentee of presidential candidate and former Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
People thronged onto the streets to celebrate the victory, in spite of a dawn-to-dusk curfew that had been declared. The Kano State Government later lifted the curfew. “The decision to lift the curfew was made after a careful review of the situation and the relative calm throughout the state,” the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, noted in a statement.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 15 states, including seven re-elections for Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Muni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Moreover, the party secured wins for eight new candidates, namely, Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi)
For the part of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there were eight victories, including two re-elected Governors; Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Six first-term Governors were also elected on the PDP platform, allowing the emergence of Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminialayi Fubara (Rivers), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).
In a stunning twist of events, Dauda Lawal of the PDP won the Zamfara State Governorship position. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lawal the Governor-elect with a total of 377,726 votes, after he defeated Governor Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 311,976.
Polls In Kebbi, Adamawa Declared Inconclusive; Abia, Enugu States Votes Suspended
The governorship polls in Kebbi and Adamawa have been declared inconclusive. INEC’s Returning Officer, Professor Yusuf Saidu, stated the measures became necessary because there were breaches of electoral laws that led to cancellations of results in polling units within 20 of the 21 Local Government Areas.
Professor Saidu stated that violence, destruction of election materials, disruption of electoral proceedings and over voting, played a role in having the election declared inconclusive.
Also, INEC state collation officer, Professor Muhammadu Mele of the University of Maiduguri declared the election in Adamawa inconclusive due to the margin of votes.
“Elections were not held in 47 wards, affecting 69 polling units. So, this gives us a margin of 31,249. The total number of PVCs collected in places where elections were not held amounted to 37,016.
Based on these findings and analysis as stated in the electoral laws” where the margin between two candidates is lesser than the total number of collected PVCs in areas where elections were not held, the election is declared inconclusive.”
Professor Muhammadu Mele
In other developments, INEC on Monday, March 20, 2023, announced that collation in Abia and Enugu states has been suspended to review some results in parts of each state.
INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, disclosed that the Commission took the decision after a meeting to review the elections.
Okoye disclosed that the Commission has suspended the collation of results in Obingwa LGA of Abia State where he noted that its office was invaded by thugs on Sunday. Similarly, results from Nkanu East and Nsukka Local Government Areas in Enugu State have also been suspended for further review.
The INEC Commissioner added that a review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.
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