I will sue INEC over Bauchi election results- Gov Abubakar

Chidi Samuel|

Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, on Monday said he will challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) to resume collation of results in the state.

The electoral umpire had declared the state’s governorship election inconclusive over controversies surrounding the results of Tafawa Balewa local government area and scheduled March 23 for a re-run election.

But INEC over the weekend reversed the decision, stating that the collation of results of the March 9 election will continue on Tuesday.

After a meeting with President Buhari on Monday, Abubakar described INEC’s decision as illegal and vowed to challenge it in court.

He told reporters, “I came to brief Mr. President about the situation in my state. I briefed him on the issues surrounding the inconclusive elections.”

“The returning officer for Bauchi State at the end of collation, rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and then 36 other units spread around 15 local governments of Bauchi state and ordered a rerun.

“Surprisingly, we woke up one morning and INEC came up with a procedure that is not known to law. Because, where a returning officer has declared the result, only an election petition tribunal can reverse the result. But INEC is attempting to reverse itself in the case of Bauchi. And when one juxtapose that of Bauchi and other states with inconclusive elections, one wonders why that is happening only in Bauchi state.

“So, for that reason, there is a need for me to come and brief Mr. President because that has the potential of touching on the security of the state and it is our paramount duty to secure the state.”

“Of course what INEC did, is definitely extra illegal. It is a straight forward matter. The returning officer is the final arbiter even with respect to scores and declaration of result. And once he makes a declaration, no power can reverse that declaration except duly constituted court of the land”.

“I came to brief Mr. President, I am not seeking any action of Mr. President. We all know Mr. President, he is a stickler for procedure. What I pointedly told him was that I am not here to seek for you to interfere on our behalf, sir but to brief you on what is happening and what actions I have taken.

“One of which is that I am a lawyer and I am pursuing the legal angle. I briefed him and he emphasized on that legal angle that it is the best way to go.”