The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner in elections held into all the 20 local government areas in Bauchi State on Saturday.
Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), Alhaji Ahmed Makama, announced the results on Saturday night.
While the Chairmen-elect are expected to receive their certificates of return today (Sunday) opposition parties in the state have kicked against the result.
Announcing the results, Makama said, “For the chairmanship election, PDP won all the 20 seats as declared at the local government levels.
“And for the councillors, the results were declared in the wards with other parties emerging victorious.”
However, while reacting to the outcome of the election, the APC rejected the results, describing them as a blatant robbery of the electorate’s rights and a mockery of democracy.
Speaking at a press conference held at the party’s secretariat on Saturday, the APC legal adviser in the state, Barrister Rabiu Garba, criticised the election, alleging it was a political manoeuvre by the PDP-led administration in Bauchi State.
He condemned the election, stating, “As we rightly pointed out yesterday, BASIEC had no intention of conducting a free, fair, and credible election. What we witnessed today in all 20 Local Government Areas was a deceptive drama and a mockery of innocent voters and politicians.
“The so-called election was marred by numerous irregularities, including inadequate election materials, withheld sensitive materials and result sheets, votes allocated to the PDP, absence of Returning Officers to officially declare results, abandonment of election materials at polling units by fleeing electoral officers, and non-conduct of elections in most polling units across Bauchi State.”
The APC demanded the immediate resignation of Ahmad Makama as Chairman of the Commission, accusing him of failing to uphold his Oath of Office. The party also called on BASIEC to cancel the local government elections purportedly conducted on 17th August 2024 in Bauchi State and urged the Bauchi State Government to dissolve the current management of the Electoral Commission and reconstitute a credible team to conduct fresh elections that would be free, fair, credible, and in line with international best practices.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that some opposition political parties secured several councillor seats in the elections.
According to reports, Samira Maikano of the Young Progressive Party was elected as councillor for Wandi Ward in Dass Local Government Area, winning with 1,610 votes and defeating her closest rival, Bashir Abdullahi of the PDP, who received 1,352 votes. The results were announced by Returning Officer Nasiru Hassan at the ward level.
Similarly, in Darazo Local Government Area, Yunusa Muhammed of the African Action Congress won the Papa North councillorship position with 1,156 votes, defeating Ashiru Muhammad of the PDP, who received 1,053 votes, and Idris Muhammad of the APC, who secured 290 votes.
The Returning Officer, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, announced the results, stating, “Yunusa Muhammed of the AAC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In Bogoro Local Government Area, despite not fielding a candidate, the Labour Party (LP) received the highest votes in the Lusa Ward. The LP received 2,200 votes, while the PDP received 2,168 votes, and the APC received 275 votes. However, Lucy Yusuf of the PDP, who secured second place, was declared the winner by Returning Officer Daniel Gambo.
In total, 323 candidates from 10 political parties contested for councillor seats in the state.