Taraba state might be going into the history at the end of today. The state is on the verge of producing the first female governor in Nigeria.
Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is going against Darius Dickson Ishaku of PDP in nine councils. The state Returning Officer for governorship election, Muhammadu Kyari, had declared the election inconclusive after collating the results from 16 out of the 17 councils, because the number of cancelled votes was above the gap between Ishaku, a former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, who came first, and Alhassan, who came second. Ishaku polled 317,198 votes, while Alhassan got 262,386.
The exercise would hold in 165 polling units in Donga council, with over 85,657 registered voters. Other councils that had their votes cancelled are Bali, Karim-Lamido, Takum, Ussa, Wukari, Yorro and Zing.
Supplementary elections will also be taking place today in Imo and Abia states. In Abia, the duel is between Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). INEC spokesman in the state, Edwin Enabor, said the polls would be conducted in some polling units across nine councils, with combined registered voters numbering 179, 224. The affected councils are Aba North, Aba South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Umuahia South, Bende, Ohafia, Arochukwu and Osisioma.
In the case of Imo, it is a straight fight between incumbent Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha, who is Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Adah, had announced that the result of the governorship election was not clear enough to have an outright winner.
He stated the inconclusiveness was as a result of non-functionality of card readers, violence and snatching of ballot boxes, adding: “It would be wrong under such situation if a winner was declared.” Today’s exercise takes place in 250 polling booths across the 23 councils.
Attention is firmly rooted in Taraba where many are hoping for the emergence of the first female governor in Nigeria. In about 24 hours, the result will be known.
