From Yakubu Busari, Jos
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has declares as inconclusive the APC party primaries for the Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency bye-election.
Chairman of the electoral committee Rt Hon Abu Ajiya who announced the result in Jos on Wednesday declared the party primary inconclusive. According to him, the two front aspirants, Abbey Joseph Aku and Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande each polled 344 votes. He said that based on INEC guidelines none of the aspirants emerged winners.
Earlier, the Chairman of APC electoral panel, Hon Habu Sajo said since both aspirant scored the same result, all the aspirants including runners up, would not be declared winner and the headquarters of the party shall be so informed. Apart from Kwande and Abbey, Hon Lumumba Adah Adeh, Dr Adamau Aliyu also participated.
Meanwhile, Kwande has contested the figures, claiming that the outcome was manipulated to disqualify him because he refused to yield to pressure to step down for the “candidate of Governor Simon Lalong’s choice, Dr Abbey Aku”. He expressed disappointment in the process of the election which was scheduled for 9 am but did not take place until 10 pm.
He said; “First we came here at 9 am on Tuesday to start the primaries but the election started at about 10pm and lasted until Wednesday morning when we went for break. We came back and continued voting. I do not know how it became a tie. As far as I am concerned I won this election. I know the forces that were against me. I entered the race as a free citizen. Hon Abbey is my brother and it is sad they are putting us at each others throat. I won this election and he knows it.”
Aku dismissed the allegation and said that the actual results showed that he scored 366 as against, 334 for Kwande. He said the exercise was undemocratic.
