The Peoples Democratic Party has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately announce the outstanding results for the Kuje Area Council chairmanship election, expressing concern over delays in the collation process.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the delay in declaring results from two wards—Kuje Central and Kabi—was generating apprehension.
“We are concerned that the results from two wards in Kuje Area Council are yet to be announced by INEC.
This delay has raised apprehension because of the marginal lead that the Peoples Democratic Party has there, which we are aware is under the threat of being manipulated using security forces,” the statement read.
The party urged the electoral commission to conclude the process without further delay, calling on the INEC Chairman to direct the immediate announcement of results from the affected wards, most of which it said had already been uploaded to the IReV portal.
“Election results must remain a true reflection of the votes of the people; anything less invalidates the entire process. We should uphold the sanctity of the ballot,” Ememobong stated.
The demand comes amid earlier explanations by INEC regarding the delay. The Supervising Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Kuje Area Council election, Abubakar Dambo, had attributed the situation to challenges encountered during collation.
Dambo, in an interview, said results from Central and Kabi wards were still being collated, noting that figures from eight of the ten wards had already been declared. He explained that the delay stemmed from a logistical error involving collation officers.
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Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, congratulated party supporters following the outcome of the February 21 polls in the Federal Capital Territory, Kano and Rivers states.
He described the results as a reflection of the APC’s grassroots strength and unity and listed Kuje among councils won by the party despite the pending declaration.
Earlier results showed the APC secured victories in Abaji, Kwali, Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari, while the PDP won in Gwagwalada Area Council.
President Bola Tinubu also congratulated winners of the elections, commending INEC, security agencies and voters for the peaceful conduct of the polls.
However, opposition parties have continued to raise concerns over the conduct of the elections, citing low voter turnout and alleged irregularities.
The PDP had earlier inaugurated a special legal team to handle election petitions arising from the FCT Area Council polls.