TheCable

Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano state, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no vote to count in Kano.

He spoke while making an assessment of Saturday’s supplementary election in the state.

There have been reports of widespread violence in the state. Suspected thugs chased voters from polling units in Gama ward, Nassarawa local government area while journalists and observers were attacked in different parts of the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it lost four of its members during the election.

But Anthony Micheal, deputy inspector-general of police, said the exercise had been successful despite “few incidents” of violence.

But Kwankwaso said violence and rigging of the supplementary poll took place in all the 28 local governments where the election held.

“It is very sad that elections could not hold today because by yesterday evening, all the polling units in the rerun areas were overtaken by thugs. Very early morning today elections were concluded in many polling centres,” he said.

“And even more concerning is the role of the police under the leadership of DIG Anthony Obizie who actually back up thugs under the leadership of the Kano state government. It is a very sad day for all of us and a very sad day for democracy.

“There are very few places where elections took place especially here in the city but there was no election in the overwhelming places because they were overtaken by thugs. People were going round with ballot papers and result sheets, writing what they wanted and submitted them to the INEC officials.

“Our prayer is that this elections should be canceled and re-scheduled so that we can have better, free and fair elections in Kano. I don’t think by all standards, the elections here in Kano can hold water. It is unacceptable and I don’t think INEC can go ahead to count because there is nothing to count.”