3rd February, 2013
MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano
Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday in Kano northwest Nigeria, won the bye-elections for Gaya and Garko state Assembly bye-elections held on Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared candidates of PDP in the two constituencies’ winners of the tension-soaked bye-election that was almost marred with violence.
The two seats were declared vacant by INEC, following the assassination of two lawmakers from both constituencies by gunmen late last year.
The results of the elections announced by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Dr Munir Abdullahi Kambi showed that Abba Ibrahim Garko polled 53,895 votes to defeat Ashiru Ado of the ANPP, who scored 2,168 votes, while CPC’s candidate polled 1,331 votes.
Kambi, while declaring the results in Gaya constituency, said Tafida Tijani Gaya of the PDP polled 42,696 votes to defeat Ahmed Abdullahi of the ANPP, who scored 2,379 votes while CPC’s candidate secured 970 votes.
Based on the scores polled by the candidates, Kambi declared Abba Ibrahim Garko of PDP the winner from Garko constituency into the State House of Assembly, while Tafida Tijani Gaya from Gaya constituency emerged as the winner and representative of Gaya constituency in the State House of Assembly.
Following threats of violence days before the election, security agencies in the state as coordinated by the Assistant Inspector General, AIG, of Police in charge of Zone 1, Mr. David Omojola deployed heavy security to the areas with 6000 police men, supported by men and officers of other security agencies to ensure peace and order.
The exercise in the two constituencies was, however, adjudged peaceful as security agencies were on red alert to forestall breach of peace.