CUPP rejects Kaduna guber results, vows to challenge irregularities in court
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), an umbrella of 41 political parties and 18 governorship candidates in Kaduna State has rejected the outcome of the gubernatorial election in the state.
This is just as governorship candidates under the auspices of Progressive Governorship Candidates Forum have congratulated Governor Nasir El-Rufai over his victory in the Saturday governorship election in Kaduna state.
CUPP Chairman, Hon. Umar Farouk Mairaqumi at the group’s press conference said their rejection of the elections results was because elections in some local government areas were marred with lot of irregularities.
According to him, “the Smart Card Readers (SCR) were not used in some parts of the state like; Igabi, Kaduna South, Kaduna North, Giwa, Lere, Birnin Gwari and Soba local government areas.
“Over 650 polling units with over 400,000 votes were cancelled and our agents reported at various collation centres, but INEC decided to ignore our complaints and went ahead to announce the results.
“It is in the light of the above that we the 37 political parties and 18 governorship candidates that participated in the gubernatorial election in Kaduna State
hereby reject the result in its totality and we shall pursue all lawful means to ensure justice is done to the people of Kaduna State and their stolen mandate restored,” Mairaqumi explained.
But, the progressive governorship candidates who had few days before the election endorsed El-Rufai said, the Governor’s re-election was an indication that he has delivered good governance to the people of Kaduna State.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the declaration of the governorship results at the INEC collation centre, chairman of the progressive candidate forum, Awwal Abdullahi, asked other candidates to concede defeat and work with El-Rufai to move Kaduna State to the ‘Next Level’.
The forum which consists of 49 political parties and 32 governorship candidates urged aggrieved political parties or candidates to follow the right channels in challenging the outcome of the polls.
