Why We Declared Zamfara Bye-Election Inconclusive – INEC

– Mourns 6 Dead Policemen, Says ‘Unscrupulous’ Persons Disrupted Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has mourned six policemen who lost their lives after drowning at a river while on their way to provide security in Saturday’s Bayelsa East Senatorial bye-election.

INEC said the policemen were escorting members of it’s staff and voting materials when a boat conveying them capsized.

The electoral body also frowned at the activities of those it described as “unscrupulous persons” who allegedly distrustped some of the bye-elections held for nine State House of Assembly seats and six Senatorial seats.

The electoral umpire spoke in a statement by Festus Okoye, its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee.

INEC also noted that some members of its staff were assaulted during the bye-elections by suspected thugs.

It said, “Although the elections went generally well, the Commission regrets that some unscrupulous persons are still bent on disrupting the processes. In some areas, staff of the Commission were assaulted and materials destroyed, while in others there was resistance to the use of the Smart Card Readers. In other areas, the Commission’s staff were prevented from deploying altogether. In fact, in one area in Lagos State, some people demanded for money from INEC staff before they would be allowed to deploy. These acts continue to reflect poorly on our country and denude the spirited efforts of the Commission to improve the electoral process under very difficult circumstances.”

It said that the declaration of the bye-election in Bakura state constituency in Zamfara State as inconclusive was as a result of disruption of the exercise.

INEC said, “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. 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. Voting in the 14 affected Polling Units was marred by over-voting, abduction of staff of the Commission, violence, assault occasioning grievous hurt against INEC officials, burning of INEC materials and snatching and carting away of sensitive electoral materials, resistance to the use of smart cards readers and obstruction of the electoral process.”

According to Okoye, INEC has fixed December 9, 2020, to conclude the Bakura state constituency election.

“In order to ensure that the Supplementary Election is properly secured, the Commission is considering clustering the affected Polling Units to prevent the disruptions experienced on 5th December 2020. The details will be worked out by the INEC State Office in Gusau after consultation with stakeholders.

“The Commission wams all those who have no business with the conduct of the Supplementary Election to keep away from the 14 Polling Units as only election staff, security agencies, voters, accredited observers and media, as well as polling agents are entitled to be at the locations.”