INEC declares Bakura constituency bye-election in Zamfara inconclusive

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Bakura constituency bye-election in Zamfara state inconclusive.

Announcing the result on Sunday, Ibrahim Magawata, the returning officer, said results from 14 polling units were cancelled because of over-voting.

Magawata said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 16,464 and 18,645 respectively, having a difference of 2,181.

The returning officer said the cancellation of the 14 polling units affected 11,429 voters which is higher than the margin announced and so declared the election inconclusive.

According to him, some polling units did not have any votes recorded because ballot boxes were snatched.

NAN reports that there was tension in the area days before the polls held.

There have been allegations and counter-allegations of intimidation and rigging by both the APC and PDP.

There were also accusations and counter-accusations especially on rigging and intimidation between the former state governor, Abdulaziz Yari (APC) and Bello Matawalle, the governor of the state who is a member of the PDP.

This created conflict among the supporters of the two political parties and led to the deployment of more security personnel.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to brief the media on the development and the next line of action.