INEC Declares Taraba Bye-Election Inconclusive

The electoral umpire ordered a supplementary poll in three local government areas of the state.

By Nwangoro Nnaemeka

Updated February 4, 2024

FILE: An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official holds up a ballot paper towards part agents during the counting process at a polling station in Yola on February 25, 2023, during Nigeria’s presidential and general election. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the House of Representatives Bye-Election held on Saturday in three local government areas of Taraba State inconclusive and ordered a supplementary poll.

According to the Collation Officer, Prof Daniel Ayuba, the decision became necessary because the lead margin between the leading candidate and the first runner up is less than the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the polling units where elections were cancelled.

Sadiq Tafida of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in the lead in the collated results with 17,214 votes, while Innocent Jabayang of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was the first runner up with 15,537 votes.

The total number of PVCs collected in cancelled polling units is 14,759.