The Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, on Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari over inconclusive election in the state as regards to reversal of cancellation of result of Tabawa Balewa Local Government result by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Before the declaration of the Bauchi governorship as inconclusive, the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bala Mohammed, polled 469,512 votes against Governor Mohammed Abubakar who scored 465,453 votes.
Based on the results announced at the collation centre of Tafawa Balewa, the governor’s opponent, Bala Mohammed, is leading with a wide margin.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting with the president, the governor said he briefed the president on what the law provides as regards to cancellation of result after announcement.
He said only tribunal has power to upturn the announcement of result.
“I briefed him on the issues surrounding the inconclusive elections, 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 what has the potential of touching on the security of the state and it is paramount,” he said.
“It is a straightforward 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 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,” he added.
