Inconclusive elections due to competitive polls – INEC


…presents certificates of return to el-Rufai, 34 lawmakers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday explained that inconclusive elections became rampant in the 2019 general election in Nigeria because the polls have become highly competitive. 

Speaking while presenting certificates of return to Kaduna state governor-elect and 34 members-elect of Kaduna state House of Assembly, National Commissioner supervising Plateau, Niger, Kaduna states and the FCT, Professor Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine commended people of Kaduna state for having peaceful polls.

“Our democracy is deepening incrementally having conducted the sixth successive election without an interregnum. There is improved integrity in the electoral system.

“The elections are becoming more and more competitive and the margin between winners and runners-up are decreasing to the extent that in many instances elections into the executive and legislatures are increasingly becoming inconclusive.

“This explains why the phenomenon of inconclusive elections appears to have

increased. It existed prior to the existence of the present commission. We cannot expect less when a few big parties are contesting for power at every level,” she said.

The INEC Commissioner also noted that the election was marred by violence through, “a new trend, in which some parties and candidates engaged in violent behaviour, including manhandling election duty officials and intimidation of voters, collation and returning officers. 

“The Commission views this trend with grave concerns and will continue to work on greater voter enlightenment for mandate protection as well as with the security agencies to curtail this ugly trend.

“The Commission advises disgruntled persons and parties to feel free to seek judicial remedy where they believe they have genuine case(s) to pursue. It is consistent with the culture of democracy as opposed to resorting to self-help.

She called on Governor Nasir el-Rufai to ensure the people of the state enjoy dividends of democracy. “I encourage you to deliver more material benefits to the diversity of people in Kaduna state in order to meet their governance expectations.”

El-Rufai in his remarks said that he would carry everybody along in governance irrespective of political differences and assured of security of lives and property, just as he expressed gratitude to the people for re-electing him to serve them for the second term. 

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