Mohammed Abubakar, governor of
Bauchi state, says he is heading to court to challenge the Independent National
Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to resume collation of results in the
state.
The election in the north-west
state was declared inconclusive based on controversies in the results of Tafawa
Balewa local government area.
The commission listed Bauchi
among the states where supplementary election would hold but it later reversed
the decision, saying the collation of results of the March 9 election will
continue on Tuesday.
Speaking after meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, the governor described INEC’s decision as
illegal.
“I came to brief Mr. President
about the situation in my state. I briefed him on the issues surrounding the
inconclusive elections,” he said.
“The returning officer for Bauchi
State at the end of collation, rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa local
government and then 36 other units spread around 15 local governments of Bauchi
state and ordered a rerun.
“Surprisingly, we woke up one
morning and INEC came up with a procedure that is not known to law. Because,
where a returning officer has declared the result, only an election petition
tribunal can reverse the result. But INEC is attempting to reverse itself in
the case of Bauchi. And when one juxtapose that of Bauchi and other states with
inconclusive elections, one wonders why that is happening only in Bauchi state.
“So, for that reason there is a
need for me to come and brief Mr. President because that has the potential of
touching on the security of the state and it is our paramount duty to secure
the state.”
Asked if what is happening was
illegal, the Bauchi governor said, “Of course it is definitely extra illegal.
It is a straight forward matter. The returning officer is the final arbiter
even with respect to scores and declaration of result. And once he makes a
declaration, no power can reverse that declaration except duly constituted
court of the land.
“I came to brief Mr. President, I
am not seeking any action of Mr. President. We all know Mr. President, he is a
stickler for procedure. What I pointedly told him was that I am not here to
seek for you to interfere on our behalf, sir but to brief you on what is
happening and what actions I have taken.
“One of which is that I am a
lawyer and I am pursuing the legal angle. I briefed him and he emphasized on
that legal angle that it is the best way to go.”
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