Re: “Inconclusive” unknown term in Nigeria’s electoral law-Kano Rec”

I need to draw attention to the fact that your story (Daily Trust, Friday 1 st August, 2025) captioned “Inconclusive” Unknown Term In Nigeria’s Electoral Law-Kano Rec” appears to have inadvertently misrepresented the facts thereby compelling us to issue further clarification to disabuse the minds of citizens and your numerous readers on the provisions of […]

I need to draw attention to the fact that your story (Daily Trust, Friday 1 st August, 2025) captioned “Inconclusive” Unknown Term In Nigeria’s Electoral Law-Kano Rec” appears to have inadvertently misrepresented the facts thereby compelling us to issue further clarification to disabuse the minds of citizens and your numerous readers on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, guiding declaration of results.

It does appear that your correspondent clearly took the statement out of context as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was responding to a request from stakeholders at the meeting to clarify the different elections taking place in three local governments of Bagwai, Shanono and Ghari respectively. Specifically, there was a reference to the election in Ghari as “inconclusive’ to which the REC clarified that it was a re-run election ordered by a court while the election in the two local governments is a Bye-election due to the demise of the member representing the constituency.

The REC went further to explain that the term ‘inconclusive” is a coinage to describe an election that doesn’t meet legal requirement for a declaration and return. He stressed that the Electoral Act has clearly provided guidelines to deal with such situation and at all times declaration of election results must be made based on the legal requirements. The statement should therefore not be misrepresented to suggest that elections must be concluded anyhow but as the REC clearly pointed out must be guided by the legal provisions. This clarification becomes necessary in order to shed light on the Electoral Act 2022 and build confidence among citizens on the electoral process which is the primary focus of INEC.

 

Nahila Bello Dandago, Public Affairs Unit/Spoke Person, INEC-Kano State