By Muhammad Mamman
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency by-election in Zamfara inconclusive, citing irregularities that demand a rerun in key polling units. INEC’s Returning Officer, Lawal Sa’adu of Federal University Gusau, announced the decision after results from multiple polling stations in Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards were canceled due to electoral discrepancies.
The numbers tell a tight race: the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 7,001 votes, narrowly leading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 5,339 votes—a margin of just 1,662. However, the canceled polling units, which include 5,446 registered voters and 3,265 collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), hold enough weight to sway the outcome. According to Sa’adu, this margin falls short of the total PVCs collected in the affected areas, rendering a final declaration impossible under Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022.
“Sections 24, 47, and 51 of the Electoral Act are clear,” Sa’adu stated. “When the margin of lead between candidates is less than the number of collected PVCs in canceled polling units, we cannot name a winner until a supplementary election is held.”
The affected areas include two polling units in Sakajiki Ward, with 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 collected PVCs, and three polling units in Kambarawa Ward, with 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 collected PVCs. INEC has promised to announce a new date for the rerun election in these five polling units soon, ensuring a transparent resolution to the closely watched contest.
As Zamfara awaits the supplementary poll, political tensions remain high, with both APC and PDP vying for control in this critical state constituency. CNN will continue to monitor developments as INEC prepares for the next phase of this electoral showdown.
