Inconclusive elections: Plateau PDP lawmaker alleges irregularities, heads to court
The Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on legislative budget and research, Hon. Timothy Golu who reportedly lost his re-election bid to represent Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam federal constituency of Plateau state has kicked against the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, describing it as unacceptable fraud which would not stand.
Fielding questions with news men in Abuja on Thursday, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, law maker vowed to reclaim his stolen mandate at the tribunal
He was said to have lost to his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Mr. Yusuf Gakdi after polling 78,987 against 80, 373 votes.
The law maker who said thay the election in the constituency was “inconclusive”,disclosed that the collation/returning officer, Prof. Joseph Mangut had earlier declared the election in Kanam local government area inconclusive but “was shocked to learn a day after that the result was announced declaring his APC opponent as winner”.
According to him , “the returning agents were forced at gun point to announce the results that were inconclusive. Over 200 well armed police and army personnel were drafted to Pankshin and they chased away everyone
“It took the state REC, Alhaji Halilu Pai two days to respond to us when I insisted to know what is happening
” A copy of the letter dated February 26, and co-signed by the collation/returning officer, Prof. Joseph Mangut, the PDP LGA returning agent, Samuel S. Goar and APC agent, Sam Mbok declaring the election inconclusive showed that all the stakeholders agreed that the poll was not conclusive”.
The letter read: “in the course of collation of results from Kanam LGA, it was observed by all stakeholders involved that there were observable challenges in 9 (sic) of 5 wards under Kanam for exhaustive deliberation on some it was finally resolved that the process be declared inconclusive
“I Prof. Joseph Mangut, the collation/returning officer, by virtue of the powers conferred on me by the relevant section of the Electoral Guidelines hereby declare the Elections in Kanam inconclusive
“I did not lose the election. But the collation of results in Kanam was inconclusive. If the result in the local government area is declared, I will win my opponent by a landslide margin”, Golu declared.
