TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, as winner of Saturday’s election.

Mohammed Bello, vice-chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) who is the returning officer, announced that the governor secured the highest votes in the gubernatorial poll.

El-Rufai, who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 1,045,427 votes to defeat Isha Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 814,168 votes.

He won in 15 of the 23 local government areas, while Ashiru won 8 in eight LGAs.
Shortly after the results were announced, el-Rufai took to Twitter to thank the people of the state.

Alhamdulillah! We campaigned vigorously on our record and continuously prayed for God to choose the best leader for Kaduna State even if that choice is someone else!! God has decided. We are grateful to over 1 million Kaduna voters through whom He made us the choice. – @elrufai https://t.co/X8YNq2u7jQ

— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) March 11, 2019

Meanwhile, the PDP has rejected the results of the election, accusing INEC of conspiring with the ruling APC.

Speaking at the collation centre, Jerry Ishaya, the party’s agent, said the result was not the true reflection of the votes cast on Saturday.

Ishaya said PDP agents in Zaria, Kabau, Kaduna north, Kaduna south, Igabi, Soba and Lere local government areas of the state have told the party leadership that card readers were not used at all.

“We have formally written the INEC that card readers were not used in those local government areas mentioned. Our agents told us how security agents overpowered them in some areas,” he said.

“The results were manipulated in collaboration with the INEC, security agents.”