By John Mkom

What dominated the public discourse in Jalingo, the state capital, were conflicting opinions. More people believed that there will be no election, only a handful was confident that it will take place.

Another point of contention was whether or not the a credible election would be conducted in the country in spite of  assurances by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the March 28, Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country restored hope.

Taraba governorship election

The governorship election took place simultaneously in all the 168 of the state last Saturday and by Sunday, April 12, the results had started  coming in at the INEC office collection centre in Jalingo. Beginning with Jalingo, Ardo Kola, Lau and Gassol local councils, the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, was in the lead amid complaints of electoral violence even in these areas leading to cancellation of results from polling units.

Ishaku-Darius

When the  other 11 local councils turned in their results leaving only Sarduna, it became clear that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Arc. Darious Dickson Ishaku will carry the day.

However, following complaints from the APC, results from 20 polling units in Bali were cancelled. The APC was leading the area with 23,263 votes compared to PDP’s 15,314 votes. Also cancelled were results from 12 polling units in Takum, nine in Karim Lamido, four  each in Ussa and Wukari and one each in Yorro and Zing.

The crux of the matter

When the results from Donga local council was brought, there was a complaint of electoral violence affecting five polling units. PDP was leading with  37,069 votes while the APC candidate had 10,087 votes.

There was no complain against votes from the remaining 160 polling units but the Taraba State INEC Returning Officer,  Prof. Muhammed Kyari and the Residential Electoral Commissioner, Ahmad Makama agreed that the results of the entire local council be cancelled. They told observers in the hall and journalists that it is within their powers to do what they did.

They also agreed that the governorship election in Taraba was inconclusive because the 54812 votes margin of lead between the Arc Darious Dicksion Ishaku of the PDP and Senator Jumai Aisha Alhassan of the APC was less than the 127,125 cancelled votes.

Facts and figures

Alhassan

At the end of the collation when the figures were computed Arc. D.D. Ishaku scored 317,198 while Sen. Aisha of all progressive Congress scored 262,386 without the votes in Donga, the margin lead became 54,812 and cancelled votes became 127,125.

When the votes from the other 160 polling units from Donga are added to the total votes scored by both candidates, the PDP candidate will be leading with 354,267 while the APC candidate will have 272,473. The cancelled votes will stand at 79,969 while margin of lead will be 81,794 votes.

Reactions

The senator representing Taraba South Senatorial District, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha at a press conference described the action of the electoral umpire in the state as stinking abuse of the electoral process.

Thus, as the state goes for supplementary elections to decide the winner of the polls, there is fear of violence and electoral manipulation in the polity. There is fear of voters’ apathy as well. It is hoped that all stakeholders will play their roles effectively to ensure a free and fair and credible election.