INEC declares Taraba election inconclusive

By : Charles Akpeji, Jalingo

Date: 5 February 2024 4:28am WAT

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what it described as a landmark exercise in electoral fairness and transparency, following the recent delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State.

.PDP, SDP head for supplementary showdown

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the by-election held in Taraba State on Saturday inconclusive.
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The decision stemmed from the closely contested race between Sadiq Tafida of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Innocent Jabayang of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Tafida polled 17,214, while Jabayang closely followed with 15,537 votes.

The slim margin of 1,677 votes prompted INEC’s decision to organise a supplementary election between PDP and SDP.

Addressing newsmen, the Returning Officer (RO), Prof. Daniel Ayuba, highlighted the need for a supplementary election to resolve the deadlock.

The additional poll will be conducted in the polling units where the initial elections were cancelled, providing a crucial opportunity for voters to cast their ballots and influence the outcome.
The Guardian reported low voter turnout during the initial election, with many attributing this to the alleged failure of political parties to mobilise eligible voters effectively.

Both the PDP and SDP candidates, along with their party leaders, have vacated the coalition centre at the Jalingo Local Council secretariat. Attempts to reach them for comments were unsuccessful.
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