ACN kicks as INEC declares PDP winner in Adamawa

By Our Reporters 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Murtala Nyako was yesterday declared winner of the Adamawa State governorship election.

The returning officer, Prof. Mohammed Hamisu Mohammed, said Nyako scored 302,953 votes to beat Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate Markus Gundiri who scored 241,023.

Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) candidate Mohammed Buba Marwa scored 107,546 to place third.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate Usman Belel, who pulled out three days to the election, scored 3,885 votes.

Mohammed, who is the Vice Chancellor of Abubabar Tafewa Balewa University, Bauchi, said Nyako won 44.22 per cent of the total votes cast, scoring above the mandatory 25 per cent in 21 local government areas.

The ACN scored 35.1 per cent; 25 per cent in seven local governments. Marwa scored 15 per cent of the votes; 25 per cent in three local governments.

The ACN Returning Officer rejected the results, saying the election was characterized with irregularities.

Alleging alteration on the result sheets, he said the party would challenge the declaration of Nyako in court.

Adamawa PDP chairman, Alhaji Umaru Kugama thanked the people of the state for reposing their confidence in the PDP and Nyako’s administration by electing him for another tenure.

President Goodluck Jonathan urged Nyako to see his fresh mandate for a second term in office as a call to further duty in the service of his people.

He also advised him to use the opportunity to execute policies, projects and programmes initiated during his first term to promote development.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan also congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for the peaceful and successful conduct of the election.

The statement reads:

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan heartily congratulates Murtala Nyako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Adamawa state.

“President Jonathan urges Admiral Nyako to receive the fresh mandate given to him by the people of Adamawa State for a second term in office as a call to further duty in the service of his people and an immense opportunity to carry forward the policies, projects and programmes initiated during his first term to promote progress and development in Adamawa State.

“The President looks forward to continuing to work harmoniously with Nyako and the government of Adamawa State on the implementation of the federal government’s agenda for national transformation.

“He commends PDP National Executive Council members, members of the state executive of the party and all stakeholders of the party in Adamawa for working very hard to ensure that Nyako won convincingly on Saturday.

“President Jonathan also congratulates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies for the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections. He urges them to keep up the good work in other governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa State, Cross River State and Sokoto State this month.”

The PDP also congratulated Nyako for retaining his seat.  

A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, on behalf of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the party, congratulates Nyako and his Deputy James Bala Ngilari on their “historic victory”.

“This significant victory in the keenly contested election, which has been adjudged free and fair by observers, confirms the people’s endorsement of Admiral Nyako’s gigantic achievements in his previous term in office.”

“It also puts a final seal on the PDP as the most accepted political party in Adamawa State and beyond,” it said.

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, also congratulated Nyako.

He said Nyako’s election affirmed his popularity among the electorate and demonstrated faith in the PDP by the people of the state.

The Deputy Speaker praised the indigenes for a peaceful poll, noting that they displayed their belief in popular franchise and, by so doing, contributed to the growth of democracy.

Senate President David Mark congratulated Nyako.

Mark, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, noted that the result of the election reflected the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of Adamawa people.

He implored Nyako to reconcile all sections of the state.

He advised the governor-elect to forget all political differences in the administration of the state “because you need the co-operation and support of all citizens to successfully govern the state”.

Marwa yesterday commended youths in the state for conducting themselves well during the election.

Addressing CPC youths in Yola on the outcome of the election, he urged them to remain calm and accept the result of the election in good fate.

“I want to commend you for your support and hard work because no aspirant had gone round the state as we did and you have been with us both day and night.

“We went everywhere peacefully and people received us. I believe that if people had come out en-masse to vote, we would have won.”

He urged them to continue contributing their quota to the development of the party, adding that change would come in 2015.

The former Military Administrator of Lagos State also called on other opposition parties to strategise during subsequent elections if they were to wrestle power from the PDP.

The party’s Youth Leader Mr Baba Jimeta assured Marwa of their continued support to CPC.

A member of the State House of Assembly representing Girei Constituency, Alhaji Sani Yusuf, said he had lost confidence in the entire electoral process.

He said that the process lacked transparency and fairness, hence the votes of the electorate never mattered.

The Nigeria Civil Society Election Situation Room expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct and general improvement in the organisation of the election. It however noted a few areas of concern which should be addressed to foster better elections in the country.

The Situation Room hailed INEC for improving on its logistics arrangements during the election.

“Generally, voters’ turnout still remained below the 50% half mark, with only a 37 per cent turn out of registered voters. 

It noted, that there were a few incidents of irregularities that resulted in cancellation of results in some areas, for example, Wagga ward in Madagali LGA, and Wado 1 ward in Toungo LGA.

SOURCE: The Nation, 6 February 2012.