Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Election; No Controversy, INEC Is In Order – APC Campaign Council
The ruling All Progressives Congress, Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu campaign Council has described the actions of the Returning Officer in charge of the federal constituency election on Saturday as in order, stressing that there was no controversy as it is being peddled by the opposition party, claiming to have won when the exercise has not been completed.
This was according to a statement signed by the Director General of the Campaign Council, Hon. Yahaya Ismail and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
He said the electoral act 2022 and INEC Guidelines 2022 are very clear on why the Commission can order for supplementary election where elections are deemed not to be concluded in line with the relevant laws.
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‘Where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates in an election is NOT in excess of the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Polling Units where elections are postponed, voided or not held in line with Sections 24(2 & 3), 47(3) and 51(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Returning Officer shall decline to make a return for the constituency until polls have been conducted in the affected Polling Units and the results collated into the relevant forms for Declaration and Return. This is the Margin of Lead Principle and shall apply wherever necessary in making returns for all elections in accordance with these Regulations and Guidelines’
‘Where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates is not in excess of the total number of collected PVCs of the Polling Unit(s) where election was not held or was cancelled in line with Sections 24, 47 and 51 of the Electoral Act, the Returning Officer shall decline to make a return until polls have been conducted in the affected Polling Units and the results incorporated into a new Form EC8D (II) and subsequently recorded into Form EC 8E (II) for Declaration and Return’.
He insisted that there was no controversy as regarded the action of the Returning Officer who did not make any return because the PVCs collected in the two affected polling units are in excess of the margin between the two leading candidates, hence he ordered for supplementary election to conclude the process to make a return.
He called on the party faithful to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding as they await the new date for the supplimentary election in the constituency to take place for the electoral umpire to conclude the process to make a valid return.
