Supplementary Elections has improved the quality of elections in the nation, says INEC
– The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that the supplementary elections has improved the quality of elections in the nation.
– INEC’s Commissioner for Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, Mr Abubakar Nahuche, has urged all candidates to imbibe the culture of sportsmanship and eschew politics of bitterness.
Mr Abubakar Nahuche, INEC National Commissioner for Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, mentioned this on Friday while presenting certificates of return to Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state and 34 elected members of the state House of Assembly in Kastina.
In his words: “The 2019 general election has generated a lot of interests and debate particularly on declaring election inconclusive requiring supplementary election.
“It shows improvement in the quality of election in recent times. It has reduced the margin between the winner and the runner up during the election,” he mentioned.
The Commissioner also gave examples of Adamawa and Sokoto states where elections were declared inconclusive.
“In Adamawa, the margin between the winner and the runner up is over 32,000 votes and the cancelled votes were about 40,900.
“The runner up need over 60 per cent of the cancelled votes to win the election.
“While in Sokoto state, the margin was over 3,400 votes while the cancelled votes were over 75,000, so, the election can go both ways, both of them can win the election as we have seen,” he said.
Mr Nahuche ended by commending all Nigerians for their support to the commission and urged them to keep doing so.
Likewise, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Jibril Zarewa, has said that the commission would strive hard to consolidate its successes towards a better operation.
“We will look at process and procedures with a view to reviewing them to further strengthen the areas of strength and address shortcomings,” he mentioned.
He also commended all political parties for conducting their campaigns in a peaceful and tranquil manner. As well as the traditional and religious leaders for their exemplary roles in advocacy, mobilisation and participation in electoral processes.
