Again, Observer Groups Reject INEC Declaration Of Yusuf As Kano Governor-elect

A coalition of accredited Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) domestic observer groups has again rejected the declaration of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf, as winner of the March 18 governorship election in Kano State.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Ali Abacha, the coalition urged INEC to examine Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine deployed to verify the figures on the results sheets Form EC8As in five local government areas of the state, including Gwarzo, Tudun Wada, Bagwai, Dala, Fagge.

The observer groups insisted that there were reported cases of irregularities of some state and non-state actors that undermined the process of election in the aforementioned local councils.

Establishing the basis for the review of the election, the coalition contended that there was no way the declaration of Abba kabir Yusuf as winner of the election would stand because the margin of lead pegged at 128,897 votes is less than the total number of cancelled votes of 273,442, adding that “section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended is very clear” on such cases.

“In conclusion, we the Coalition of INEC Domestic Observer Groups therefore states that the Kano State Governorship and State Assembly Elections conducted on Saturday 18” March 2023 was marred by irregularities, violation of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines and do not meet with the best standard democratic practice,” it stated.

Reacting to a report by the Transition monitoring group (TMG), in conjunction with CSOs, that the Kano governorship poll should be cancelled outrightly, the coalition said, “We are apolitical, neutral and had no affiliation with any political party. As a Coalition of Election Observer Groups, we are neither faceless nor partisan as being reported to malign the image of the coalition before the good people of Kano and the nation at large.

“We want to reiterate here that we are experienced observer groups with over 30 years field experience in election observations in Nigeria and other African Countries.

“As a coalition of duly accredited INEC Domestic Observer Groups it has been a tradition that at the end of every election exercise we compile, compare, report obtained from various field officers deployed to all the 44 Local Government Areas in Kano State.

“To this end every data collated by our field officers have been proven to be accurate, reliable, and verifiable without any act of misinformation or mischief intended to hurt, please or malign any particular interest.

“In this context, we wish to affirm categorically that the group never at any time called for the cancellation of the Kano polls. Rather in fairness we advised that INEC should review results obtained in affected areas where issue of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS ) and over voting occurs.

“We operate solely on rules of engagement and code of ethics of the observers guidelines as required by the law.

“We also agree that in every election all grievances must be channeled to the court of law.”

The observer groups noted that it was not saying anything different from what was reported in other states like Abia, Adamawa, Enugu, Ogun State, among others.

“We uphold the Electoral commission in much higher esteem as the umpire mandated by law to conduct elections and announce results. However as observer groups our duty is to identify, observe, report and refer all communications to INEC,” it added.