YOUR SAY: What next for Kogi election now?

There is a constitutional crisis in Kogi state with the death of Abubakar Audu. The APC governorship candidate died suddenly on Sunday before the election was concluded. Although INEC announced most of the results, it also declared the election inconclusive because the number of cancelled votes was higher than the vote difference between the first and second placed candidates.

In other words, the number of cancelled votes is enough to determine the winner. Audu secured 240,867 votes, while Idris polled 199,514 votes. The difference is 41,353, and the cancelled votes were 49,953.

Section 181 of the 1999 constitution provides that the deputy governorship-elect should take over in the event that the governor-elect cannot assume office. However, since the election is yet to be completed, there is no duly elected governor yet.

Section 36 of the 2010 electoral act provides that the affected party can nominate a new candidate, but that is before the election is conducted at all. In this case, the election was in progress when the candidate died.

What now? Kindly let us have your voice and your vote bellow.

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