PDP Warns INEC Against Cancelling Already Declared Results in Bauchi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against cancelling results already declared in the Bauchi State governorship election, saying any attempt to alter the announced figures could heighten tension in the state.

The party said residents of Bauchi were closely following developments surrounding the election and would strongly resist any move to tamper with results that had already been announced.

According to the PDP, it had received information alleging that some senior INEC officials were under pressure to extend the cancellation of results beyond Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area to 14 additional local governments.

The party claimed that the alleged plan was aimed at increasing the number of cancelled votes from about 70,000 to 184,555 and creating conditions for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to gain an advantage in the March 23 supplementary election.

The PDP further alleged that results from 230 polling units across 15 local government areas were being targeted for cancellation.

It maintained that its governorship candidate, Senator Bala Mohammed, was already in a strong position to win the election and accused the APC of attempting to frustrate that advantage.

According to the party, Tafawa Balewa was considered one of its strongholds, and cancelling results from the area would significantly affect the overall outcome of the poll.

The PDP said it was in possession of a document which it claimed contained details of the alleged plan to expand the cancellations.

The party also argued that the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa result was unjustified and alleged that the decision was part of an attempt to prevent Bala Mohammed from emerging as governor.

It said that after results from 19 local government areas had been collated, Mohammed was leading by more than 4,000 votes.

The PDP further claimed that in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, its candidate secured about 40,000 votes while the APC recorded about 29,000.

According to the party, including the Tafawa Balewa result would have increased Mohammed’s lead to about 15,000 votes.

The PDP questioned the decision of the state Returning Officer, Professor Mohammed Kyari, to cancel the Tafawa Balewa result, arguing that the local government collation officer had reported no serious incidents of violence, cancellation or electoral malpractice at polling unit and ward levels.

Although the party rejected the cancellation, it said it was prepared to participate in the supplementary election scheduled for March 23 and expressed confidence that its candidate would perform strongly in Tafawa Balewa.

The PDP also warned INEC against revisiting results already declared in the other 19 local government areas.

It urged the INEC fact-finding committee examining the Bauchi election to follow established electoral laws and court decisions regarding the powers of the commission after results have been declared at polling units.

The party maintained that once votes had been validly counted and declared at polling units, such results should not be altered without lawful justification.

The PDP also called on the APC to accept what it described as electoral defeats in Bauchi and other states where supplementary elections or disputes were ongoing, including Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano and Adamawa.

It urged all parties and electoral officials to respect the wishes of voters and ensure that the remaining electoral processes were conducted transparently and peacefully.