APC panel declares Bassa/Jos North Federal constituency primary inconclusive
The primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the by-election into Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency has ended in a stalemate. The 7-man electoral panel announced to newsmen after the processes that two of the contestants, Abbey Aku and Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, polled the same number of votes. Chairman of the election panel, Habu […]
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The primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the by-election into Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency has ended in a stalemate.
The 7-man electoral panel announced to newsmen after the processes that two of the contestants, Abbey Aku and Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, polled the same number of votes.
Chairman of the election panel, Habu Ajiya, said votes were cast for four aspirants, namely Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, Abbey Aku, Lumumba Dah Adeh and Aliyu Adamu.
“There is a stalemate at the primaries because two aspirants emerged with the highest score. They are Hon Abbey Aku and Hon Suleiman Yahaya Kwande. Each of them scored 344 votes.
“In this situation, the panel is not in the position to declare a winner or take decision. We have to revert to the national secretariat of the party; only the party has the power to take a decision in such stalemate,” he said.
The situation however created tension among party members, delegates, while both Aku and Kwande expressed disappointment with the outcome of the election. Each claimed to have won the poll.
The by-election is to fill the vacant seat of Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency which has been vacant at the National Assembly following the death of Haruna Maitala last year.
Our correspondent reports that the election, which was held at Lamonde Hotel, Appollo Crescent in Jos, was shrouded in confusion.
The process of the election which started on Tuesday by 8:am ended at 2:pm yesterday with the declaration of the result.
Yusufu Aminu Idegu