Sokoto Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has condemned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the governorship election in the state as inconclusive.
The governor also threatened to challenge the electoral umpire in court if they go ahead to conduct a rerun election in the state.
Tambuwal told newsmen in Sokoto, yesterday, that he is backed by section 179 (2) of the Constitution and added that INEC might have erred in its decision to pronounce the governorship election inconclusive.
Said Tambuwal: “I would like to point out to the fact, that until now (yesterday), we have not been told the reason why it remained inconclusive because it is expected that if there will be a rerun, the reasons for that must be communicated to parties involved.
“Also, in INEC’s guideline, there are about 10 factors you must considered. For instance, if there was violence, you are not expected to go back there for a rerun. If the Card Reader malfunctioned, you only record zero vote.
“In this case, the constitution is very clear ,especially section 179 (2) which stated how to conduct governorship election, and what is expected but we are surprise that INEC is coming up with this at this stage…
The governor however urged the INEC to uphold the trust reposed in them by Nigerians by saying: “I believe there is the need for INEC to review their decision and declare the winner of the election. And the winner is very clear to everybody.
“We have gotten the highest number of votes. We have also gotten the two-thirds of virtually all the 23 local government councils of the state. So, what is left is for INEC to come back and uphold the provision of the constitution.”