Bassa/Jos North bye election – APC declares primaries inconclusive
By Golok Nanmwa,Jos
All Progressive Congress APC has declared the bye-election primaries for Jos North/Bassa House of representatives inconclusive.
Announcing the result of Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency bye-election primaries for APC the seven man electoral panel headed by Hon. Habu Saje stated that at the end of the exercise, four aspirants contested and delegates cast their votes with Hon. Joseph Abbey Aku and Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande scored 344 votes each prompting the electoral committee to declared the exercise inconclusive.
Our correspondent gathered that the outcome of the election held in Jos generated tension and apprehension among party members and supporters.
According to Saje, two contending aspirants tied, each got 344 votes and in my capacity as an electoral committee officer of the panel I cannot take a definite decision on this matter. I have to referred this matter to the head office (National Secretariat of the APC), now the head office will take a decision and communicate to the aspirants without delay taking into consideration the time is against us”
Speaking after the pronouncement of the panel, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande said “I don’t know how it would be a tie, maybe its a miracle or not but as far as I am concerned I won this election fair and squarely. I knew what I was up against and the forces that was against me.
“Nobody can force me to do what I don’t want to do. I am highly disappointed, I am not happy that I have been part of the party (APC) that I have helped to built and be in power and now is trying to do this to me.
“It is sad that they are putting two of us at each other throats, it is very unfortunate that something that they would have come out clear and tell us.”
The state publicity secretary of APC, Hon Sylvanus Namang told newsmen that all the contestants were given level playing ground which was why the processes went on free and fair,but unfortunately we have this stalemate. And as it is, only the national secretariat of the party can resolve this stalemate, the party at the state has no say in this stalemate”
Namang however said the national secretariat is likely to order a re-run for the two aspirants with the highest votes. In this case, between Him Suleiman Kwande and Hon Abbey Aku.
