From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Electoral Independent Commission (SEICOM) has announced the result of the local government Chairmanship and councillorship elections held yesterday in the state.
The SEICOM Chairman, Hajara Mohammed, while announcing the results said the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) won all the 23 local government chairmanship seats as well as the 255 councillorship positions across the State.
This was as the State governor, Uba Sani, described the election as peaceful, free and fair.
SEICOM boss explained: “Eight political parties, ADC, APC, APGA, LP, NNPP, PDP, PRP, and YPP, fielded candidates in the election. The electoral officers have filed their reports, and at the end of exercise, 23 won chairmanship positions and 255 won councillorship positions.
“The 23 local government returning officers and 255 wards returning officers have declared the results in their respective constituencies and submitted their results in accordance with the law along with the presiding officers.
“By the powers vested on the Commission, I hereby wish to confirm the result earlier collated and returned by the returning officers. I am confirming these results as follows; APC won the 23 local government Chairmanship positions and the 255 wards councillorship positions across the State.
Governor Sani in an interview with newsmen shortly after casting his vote at LEA Kawo polling unit O47 yesterday expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the local government elections across the state.
He noted that the elections have been generally free, fair, and peaceful, with only minor issues reported in three polling units and wards.
The Governor emphasized the importance of local government elections, stating that turnout across the 23 local government areas was satisfactory.
He added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had campaigned extensively throughout the state.
He also urged voters to remain peaceful, reminding them that in every election, there are winners and losers.
He expressed confidence that the process would result in credible outcomes.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edward Masha, yesterday alleged gross irregularities in the local government elections held across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas.
Masha, a former Commissioner of Water Resources in Kaduna Stated this while addressing journalists on the outcome of the poll, expressed concerns over the exclusion of crucial materials, specifically ward and local government result sheets, from the electoral process.
“We were invited by SIECOM to receive sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, but upon inspection, we discovered that the result sheets were missing. This omission compromised the integrity of the elections, and our representatives stood against the impunity,” Masha said.
Masha accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of killing democracy and undermining the electoral process.
“The APC has appointed its chairmanship candidates for the poll, knowing full well that local government elections are the bedrock of democracy. But today, they said no. We will appoint chairmen for us like sole administrators by the government,” he added.
He emphasized that the PDP would challenge the process in court, and continue to seek justice for the people.