22nd November, 2015
The governorship election in the central Nigerian state of Kogi has ended with double twists, one of which was tragic.
The APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, who was waiting to be declared the winner of the election, has instead been declared dead.
He was said to have had a massive stroke around 3.10 pm today in his village of Ogbonicha and died.
Some minutes after INEC returning officer Professor Emmanunel Kucha declared the result of the poll inconclusive.
Family sources told PMNEWS that Audu has had a history of heart-related problems.
He was said to have fallen ill after casting his vote Saturday afternoon.
Sources said at a stage, he was vomiting blood.
According to sources, Audu was said to have fallen ill after he cast his ballot in his village of Ogbonicha yesterday.
Sources said he was vomiting blood at some stage, but was stabilised by doctors around him.
However his condition worsened this morning, culminating in a massive stroke.
Just when an air ambulance was being organised to lift him for better medicare, he gave up the ghost.
Audu, from the results declared by the INEC, from the 21 local councils in the state, had won 16 and was clearly ahead of the PDP opponent and incumbent, Idris Wada.
But INEC declared the election inconclusive, despite projections by the media that he had won. A lesson to the media not to project election results again.
According to results declared by the Returning Officer, Emmanuel Kucha (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi), Audu scored 240,867 while Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party garnered 199,514 votes.
Mr. Kucha said the margin of votes between Messrs Audu and Wada is 41,353.
And introducing the first twist, he declared that the election was inconclusive because the total number of registered voters in 91 polling units, in 18 local government areas, where election was cancelled is 49,953.
He said by INEC guideline, no return could be made for the election until supplementary election is held in areas where election was cancelled.
The local governments won by Audu are Ofu, Ida, Kabba Bunu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Adavi, Koton Karfi, Ankpa, Okehi, Ajaokuta, Ijumun, Olamaboro, Igalamela, Bassa, Lokoja, and Ibaji. The PDP was victorious in five local governments namely Ogori Mangogo, Omala, Okene, Dekina and Mopa-moro.
Now came the second twist, a tragic one: instead of being declared winner of the election, Audu was declared dead.
His death was confirmed by a senior official of the APC. In response to our enquiry, he simply sent back an SMS: “Yes, Dead”.
PMNEWS learnt that he had a massive stroke this afternoon, from which he never recovered.
*Updated at 20.00 hours