The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attributed the delay in announcing the Kuje Area Council chairmanship election result to logistical challenges in two wards.
Abubakar Dambo, Supervising Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Kuje election, told The Nation on Sunday that the Central and Kabi wards had yet to conclude collation, while results from eight of the ten wards had already been declared. He explained that collation officers initially went to the wrong location and had to return to the INEC office before resuming the process.
“Kuje remains the only outstanding area council. The delay is due to the collation officers returning from Kabi ward to complete the process,” Dambo said.
Security was reportedly tightened around the INEC office in Kuje, with party agents, journalists, and security personnel present as the Returning Officer, Prof. Nkiruka Odoh, prepared to formally announce the winner.
READ ALSO: AMAC Poll: INEC Declares APC’s Christopher Maikalangu Winner
Meanwhile, results from other area councils in the Federal Capital Territory have been announced. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the Bwari Area Council chairmanship with 18,466 votes, while Christopher Maikalangu of the APC emerged victorious in Abuja Municipal Area Council with 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes cast.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mohammed Kasim, won with 22,165 votes, defeating APC’s Yahaya Shehu, who scored 17,788 votes. Umar Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC won the Abaji Area Council election with 15,536 votes, while the PDP candidate polled 4,547 votes. In Kwali Area Council, APC’s Nuhu Daniel emerged winner with 17,032 votes, defeating PDP’s Haruna Pai, who scored 8,575 votes.