APC rejects Bauchi gov results, demands cancellation in five LGAs
The All Progressives Congress has rejected the results of the reelection of Governor Bala Mohammed for another term.
The agent of the party for the governorship election announced on Monday, Abdulmumuni Kundak, refused to sign the results sheet claiming that it was marred by irregularities.
Our Correspondent had earlier reported that the Returning Officer of the Gubernatorial election in Bauchi State, Prof. Abdulkarim Mohammed, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, announced Governor Bala Mohammed as the winner having secured the highest number of votes.
Mohammed won in 15 of the 20 Local Government Areas with 528,280 votes while his closest rival, Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress won in Giade (where he hails from), Gamawa, Darazo, Katagum and Misau with 432,272 votes.
However, after the Returning wrote the results in the Form EC 8, the APC agent along with others were called upon to sign, but re refused saying he would not alleging that the results were questionable.
“I won’t sign the results because I am not satisfied because I’m not sure that this is the genuine result. It is a cooked result, I have made several alerts before everyone here. I won’t sign except if they will hold my hand and force me to sign
“So, why should I sign the results? I didn’t sign because we are not joking with our stand. When I discuss with my candidate, we will know what we’ll do. I don’t accept this and I will forever not accept it.
“There were many irregularities which I raised before the Returning Officer but they refused to hear what I was saying. How can you send your staff to go and conduct an election and bring the results to you without allowing the witnesses to also come along when the results are being presented?” He queried.
Meanwhile, the APC, in a petition addressed to the INEC Resident Electoral Commission in the State, alleged that there was massive rigging, violence and electoral malpractices called for the cancellation of the results of the election in five LGAs.
They also demanded that after the cancellations, the election should be declared as inconclusive so that a rerun can be held.
The petition, which was signed by the APC Legal Adviser, Rabiu Garba read: “We hereby complain on the massive rigging, violence and electoral malpractices committed which marred the Bauchi State Governorship election conducted on 18th march, 2023 in Alkaleri, Kirfi, Toro. Warji and Zaki Local Government Areas.”
The party cited that in some Polling Units where their supporters were many in Alkaleri LGA, their “Polling Unit Agents were chased away by PDP thugs who took over the control of all the Polling Units and thumb-printed ballot papers without accreditation and results were written without election. APC members were disenfranchised and molested by violence.
“The Election in Alkaleri LGA was characterized by over-voting without cancellation, box snatching, a returning officer was beaten, tortured and threatened at gun point to sign the concocted result.”
“Consequent upon the above, we categorically state that the Governorship election of 18 March 2003 conducted Bauchi State, was rendered invalid by reason of non-compliance to the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for the 2023 General Elections.
“We therefore, call for: the cancellation of the Governorship election held in Alakleri, Toro, Warji and Zaki Local Government Areas and the declaration of the Election in Bauchi State as inconclusive.
“I call that they order for supplementary elections in the aforementioned and affected Local Government Areas,” it partly added.
