Kogi election hangs in the balance

Following the number of cancelled votes in the Kogi state gubernatorial election, the exercise might be declared inconclusive.

The result, which was officially collated at headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, has revealed that the margin between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is less than the number of cancelled votes.

APC’s Abubakar Audu, who is leading the poll secured 240,867 votes ahead of Idris Wada, the incumbent governor, who polled 199,514 votes, leaving a difference of 41,353.

Emmanuel Kucha, returning officer of the election, said a total of 49,953 votes were voided.

Joe Agada, agent of the PDP, has expressed optimism that the electoral body will conduct a supplementary election.

“There isn’t a possible winner to be declared in this election,” he told NTA.

“I have my own compiled list from the results we have seen, and I have a record of 44,500 cancellations, so ordinarily by the guideline they have with them, I don’t think its possible to declare an outright winner.”

Abiodu Ajijola, coordinator of election monitor, an observer group, corroborated the stance of the PDP agent.

“Nineteen out of 21 local governments had some form of cancellation of election results, which is quite significant out of 21 local governments,” he said.

“When you have so many cancellations, it also has challenges. If the cancellation is more than the gap, between the first and the second, it means you don’t have a result, you don’t have a winner.”

In Dekina local government area, where Idris Wada, the incumbent governor, hails from, 17,454 votes were cancelled, owing to “violence and over voting”.

INEC is expected to make a final pronouncement on the election any time from now.