I’ll sue INEC over cancellation of Bauchi supplementary poll, says gov

Mohammed Abubakar, governor of Bauchi state, says he is heading
to court to challenge the Independent National Electoral
Commission’s (INEC) decision to resume collation of results in the
state.

The election in the north-west state was declared inconclusive
based on controversies in the results of Tafawa Balewa local
government area.

The commission listed Bauchi among the states where
supplementary election would hold but it later reversed the
decision, saying the collation of results of the March 9 election
will continue on Tuesday.

Speaking after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on
Monday, the governor described INEC’s decision as illegal.

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

“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.”

Asked if what is happening was illegal, the Bauchi governor
said, “Of course it 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.”