The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Saturday’s by-election for the Kaura-Namoda South Constituency in Zamfara State inconclusive.
Announcing the decision, the Returning Officer, Professor Lawal Sa’adu of the Federal University, Gusau, explained that the margin between the two leading parties was lower than the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in polling units where the election was cancelled.
According to him, voting was cancelled in two registration areas in Sakajiki and Kyambarawa wards. In Sakajiki (code 06), two polling units with 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 collected PVCs were affected. In Kyambarawa (code 05), three polling units were affected, with 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 collected PVCs. Altogether, 5,446 voters were registered across the affected areas, with 3,265 PVCs collected.
Earlier results had shown the All Progressives Congress (APC) leading with 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 5,339, leaving a margin of 1,662. However, this margin fell short of the 3,265 collected PVCs in the cancelled polling units.
Citing sections 24 (2 & 3), 47 (3), and 51 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022, Professor Sa’adu declared the election inconclusive.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State chapter of the APC described the exercise as “tough and tense” but commended voters for their resilience. In a statement on Sunday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, alleged that the ruling PDP government deployed intimidation tactics during the poll but said voters stood firm.
“The election has shown the strength and continued acceptance of our party in Zamfara,” the statement read, while also thanking APC leaders including former governor Abdulaziz Yari and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for their support.
The APC accused the PDP-led government of failing in governance and said the results of the bye-election reflected growing dissatisfaction among citizens. The party urged its supporters to remain calm while awaiting INEC’s final decision but warned against any attempt to “subvert the people’s mandate.”
