The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Musa Mahmud (Kallamu) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Mayo-below state constituency bye-election in Adamawa State.
The bye-election was held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in seven polling units with 5025 registered voters, following a court order that nullified the 2023 general election result for the seat.
Mahmud, who is also the state commissioner of transport, had challenged the victory of Ibrahim Italiya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election, alleging irregularities and malpractices.
The appellate court, which ruled in favor of Mahmud, ordered a rerun election in the affected polling units.
A Close Contest
According to the INEC returning officer for the bye-election, Prof. Mohammed Baba Ardo of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Mahmud polled 1306 votes to defeat Italiya, who polled 874 votes.
Ardo, who declared the results at the collation center in Mayo-belwa local government area, said Mahmud won six out of the seven polling units.
He added that the total votes cast during the bye-election were 2252, out of which 2192 were valid and 08 were rejected.
Prof. Mohammed Baba Ardo also computed the final results by adding the votes from the 2023 election and the bye-election.
He said, “In the 2023 election, the APC candidate got 7912 while the PDP candidate scored 7840 to establish a margin of win by 72 votes. But from the rerun polls, the PDP candidate polled 1306 votes to defeat the APC candidate, who polled 874 votes. Thus, computing the final results, the PDP candidate, Musa Mahmud, scored a total of 9146 votes and won the bye-election while the APC candidate, Ibrahim Musa, had 8,788 votes in both the general and bye-elections. Musa Mahmud of PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the electoral act, is therefore declared the winner and returned elected.”
A Victory for Democracy
Speaking to journalists after the declaration, Mahmud thanked his constituents for their support and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him.
He said he would work hard to deliver on his campaign promises and improve the lives of his people.
He also commended the INEC, the security agencies, and the civil society organizations for ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful election.
Mahmud said, “I am very happy and grateful to God for this victory. It is a victory for democracy and the rule of law. I also appreciate the efforts of INEC, the security agencies, and the civil society organizations for conducting a credible and transparent election. I urge all my supporters to celebrate peacefully and avoid any violence or provocation.”
The Mayo-below state constituency bye-election is one of the several elections that have been held in Nigeria since the 2023 general elections, which were marred by violence, fraud, and low turnout.
The bye-elections are seen as a test of the democratic process and the political stability of the country, which is facing multiple challenges such as insecurity, corruption, and economic recession.
The successful conduct of the Mayo-below bye-election, despite the tense political atmosphere and the legal disputes, is a sign of hope for the future of Nigeria’s democracy and development.
Source: Punch
