Gov Abubakar Kicks Over INEC’s Decision To Resume Collation, Reveals Next Action
The Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, has said that he will go to court to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to resume the collation of the results of March 9 governorship polls in the state.
The governor, who said INEC’s decision was “illegal,” spoke on his next line of action after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at the Presidential Villa.
INEC had reversed its decision to suspend the collation of results in Rivers and Bauchi states.
The governor explained that his mission to the Villa was to brief Buhari on the latest developments, saying he did not expect the President to assist him in any way.
The governor spoke with State House correspondents, saying, “I came to brief Mr. President about the situation in my state. I briefed him on the issues surrounding the inconclusive elections.
“The Returning Officer for Bauchi State, at the end of the collation, rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa Local Government and those of the 36 other units spread around 15 local government areas of Bauchi State and then 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 it.
“But INEC is attempting to reverse itself in the case of Bauchi. And when one juxtaposes the issues in Bauchi against those of other states whose elections were also deemed inconclusive, one wonders why Bauchi State is being dealt with this way.
“So, for that reason, there is a need for me to come and brief Mr. President because the matter has the potential of touching on the security of the state and it is our paramount duty to secure the state.”
On the specific options left to him, Abubakar stated, “I am a lawyer and I am pursuing the legal angle.
“I briefed him (President Buhari) and he emphasised on that legal angle that it is the best way to go.”
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