The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Ibrahim Tudu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Bazkura State constituency by- election which held on Wednesday.
This was announced by the Returning Officer of the bye election, Prof. Yahaya Tanko of the Department of Political Science, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto at the Local government Collation Center in Bakura.
Prof. Baba said the results of the 14 affected polling units in five wards of the local government area submitted by the wards returning officers concluded the election which was declared inconclusive last Saturday.
According to him, “candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC Dan-Kande Bello, polled 16,546 votes while Ibrahim Tudu Tukur of the PDP scored 23,874 votes hence returned elected.”
The state’s PDP Chairman, Alh. Tukur Dan-Fulani who spoke to journalists shortly after the announcement, charged the winner to justify his victory and be a good ambassador of the Party as well as his constituency.
On his part, the agent of All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and the former National Secretary of the party said, as an ally of the PDP the victory of Ibrahim Tudu of the PDP did not come as a surprise.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Asma’u Maikudi, election observers, party agents and security agents were all present when the announcrment declaring the winner was made.
APC had at a press briefing in Gusau, the state capital, less than 24 hours to the election announced the party’s withdrawal from the race.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji said at the briefing that the party was pulling out because the security agencies could not guarantee the safety of people’s lives and property during the re-run by-election.
The APC pointed out that the exercise was declared inconclusive on Saturday because it was marred with violence, ballot box snatching and other election irregularities.
It would be recalled that vacancy was declared by INEC on the Bakura state assembly constituency following the death of the former representative, Tukur Jekada of the PDP.