INEC to conduct supplementary election in 13 polling units in Doguwa’s constituency

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct a supplementary election in the Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency of Kano state.

The commission had declared Alhassan Doguwa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the house of representatives seat for the federal constituency in the February 25 elections.

Ibrahim Yakasai, the returning officer, had said Doguwa scored 39,732 votes to defeat Salisu Abdullahi, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who polled 34,798 votes.

However, INEC on Tuesday removed Doguwa’s name from the list of the elected house of representatives members and in a comment posted on the list, said Doguwa’s declaration as the winner was made under duress.

Speaking on Wednesday at the INEC office in Kano, Yakasai said elections were cancelled in 13 polling units in the constituency.

He said since the number of collected PVCs in the affected polling units was higher than the margin of votes between the political parties with the highest votes, a supplementary election needed to be conducted.

”You may recall that I was made to declare election results of Doguwa constituency on agent 24, 2023 under duress. Meanwhile, section 65 of the electoral act 2022 has empowered INEC to review such declaration and the commission has exercised that power by reviewing the declaration,” Yakasai said.

“I, professor Ibrahim Yakasai, now declare after reviewing the results, that ADC scored 150 votes, APC 39,732, NNPP 34,798, PDP 2091, and PRP scored 105 votes.

“However, elections were cancelled in 13 polling units with a total number of 7,083 registered voters, while the PVCs collected was 6,917.

“The margin between the two parties with the highest score is 4,934 which shows that if the total number of PVCs collected in the 13 polling units cancelled is added to the second runner-up, it will change the results of the election of the constituency.

“That is, the margin between the APC and NNPP is less than the total number of PVCs in the cancelled polling units.

“I, therefore, declare that a supplementary election in the 13 polling units has to be conducted to get a clear winner.”

TOUGH TIMES FOR DOGUWA

The development adds to the list of issues that Alhassan Doguwa is contending with.

Doguwa is standing trial over alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm, mischief, and public disturbance.

On February 28, he was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while boarding a flight to Abuja.

He was arrested after police received a report that he allegedly led thugs to set ablaze the secretariat of the NNPP in Kano, with two persons feared dead.

Although the legislator denied any wrongdoing, he was arraigned on March 1, at a magistrate court in Kano and was subsequently remanded in prison.

On Monday, a federal high court granted him bail to the sum of N500 million.

In December 2022, Doguwa had threatened to “deal with” residents in the state if they failed to vote for the APC.

“To God who made me, on election day, you must vote for APC or we’ll deal with you,” the lawmaker said in Hausa.

His comment was heavily criticised by Nigerians at the time.

The lawmaker later apologised, saying the remark was not a threat but “political semantics”.

Doguwa is the majority leader of the house of representatives.