‘Inconclusive’ unknown term in Nigeria’s electoral law – Kano REC
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State, Abdu Zango, has said that Nigeria’s Electoral Law does not recognise the term “inconclusive elections.” Elections in Nigeria have, at various times, been declared inconclusive by INEC returning officers when the number of cancelled votes exceeds the margin between the […]
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State, Abdu Zango, has said that Nigeria’s Electoral Law does not recognise the term “inconclusive elections.”
Elections in Nigeria have, at various times, been declared inconclusive by INEC returning officers when the number of cancelled votes exceeds the margin between the leading candidates.
Even in Kano in 2019, the governorship election was declared inconclusive under similar circumstances, with the final winner announced only after a supplementary poll.
However, while addressing election stakeholders on Thursday at the commission’s headquarters in Kano ahead of the August 16 bye-election and rerun in two state assembly constituencies of Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa, Zango stated that the term has no legal basis. “Inconclusive election is an unknown term in the Nigerian Electoral Law. The law doesn’t know it. That was why during the 2023 elections, I said we would hold elections and declare winners without declaring any inconclusive,” the REC said.
He explained that the bye-election in Bagwai/Shanono constituency would be held due to the death of the sitting member last year, while a rerun in 10 polling units of Ghari Local Government Area in Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency would be conducted based on a court order.
The REC further noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be used to accredit voters and transmit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.