Tension as INEC cancels 92,000 votes in Plateau

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Plateau state has cancelled all votes cast in Tudun Wada/Kabong Ward of Jos North Local Government Area in the state. The returning officer for the LGA, Dr. Augustine Azi announced the rejection of the votes on claims of illegibility. According to the results submitted to the Presidential collation centre at the INEC Headquarters by Dr. Azi on Monday, the APC scored 93,800 votes against the PDP which polled 53,277. The ward where the votes were cancelled is said to have 92,000 registered voters. Returning Agents for the PDP said they were deceived into signing the results without properly entering them at the Local Government collation centre. The collation officer for the LGA had assured of rectifying all issues connected to the results before finally submitting them. Journalists have equally confirmed that the LGA collation officer assured of harmonizing the results before submission. Azi however claimed that he only assured of seeking clarification on the issues at the state collation centre.  In reaction, the State Collation Officer, Prof. Richard Anande condemned the action. “This is wrong”, he said, but however maintained that his job was only to receive results and not entertain complaints. Our correspondent reports that this is the second time results will be cancelled in PDP dominated ward in three years. A similar scenario played out in 2015 but no public reaction was recorded. This time however, youths are said to be mobilizing to protest in the affected ward.