Bauchi State office of the INEC has declared that out of the Twelve Federal Constituency seats in the state only one was yet to be declared and returned as a result of a deficiency of the margin of lead between the candidates.
The declaration was made by the REC, Ibrahim Abdullahi during a Stakeholders meeting held on Monday to review the presidential and national assembly elections held on Saturday 23, February 2019.
The REC further disclosed that all the three senatorial results were successfully declared and returned attributing the success recorded to the combined efforts of the political leadership, security forces, observer groups, traditional and religious leaders, and the Press who in different ways ensured that peace reigned supreme.
He, however, declared that in spite of the relative peace enjoyed during the conduct of the election, there were few issues that called for concern and which need to be addressed before the next round of elections in Bogoro, Tafawa-Balewa, Dass, Zaki and Gamawa local government areas.
Ibrahim Abdullahi explained that in the affected LGAs if not for the prompt intervention of the security agencies the situation would have turned into violent political crisis declaring that voting activities in Bogoro, in particular, was characterized by intimidation and harassment of election officials adding that there was a high tension in Tafawa-Balewa, Dass, Zaki and Gamawa LGAs.
He concluded that “as we prepare for the governorship and State Assembly elections, I am appealing to all political stakeholders, particularly contestants political gladiators to prevail on their supporters to allow peace to reign before, during and after the next elections”.
The REC also called on the security and law enforcement agencies to sustain the momentum of ensuring the prevalence of peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election assuring that, “the Commission on its part will continue to provide a level playing field just as it did during the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections that brought about the emergence of three different political parties as representatives in the national parliament “.
He then urged all eligible voters to come out en masse to vote for the candidate of their choice in a peaceful and non-violent manner during the next round of election as security forces have assured of the protection of all law abiding citizens.
