INEC Declares Kogi West Senatorial Election Inconclusive Until After Supplementary Rerun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared as inconclusive the rerun of election in Kogi West Senatorial District held on Saturday, November 16, 2019.

The INEC returning officer, Professor Olayinde Lawal declared the election inconclusive on Sunday because the margin of win was less than the total canceled votes.

Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored a total of 80,118 votes, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 59,548 votes from the seven Local Government Areas in the senatorial district.

According to the results announced so far, APC’s Adeyemi is leading with 20,570 votes.

Lawal explained that the total margin between both candidates was lower than the 43,127 registered voters in 53 polling units of 20 registration areas in the zone where elections were canceled.

The returning officer, who declared the election inconclusive said he decided not to declare a winner because of the slim margin between the two leading candidates.

Professor Lawal said INEC will announce a new date for the supplementary election in the 53 polling units before a winner will be declared.

Meanwhile, Senator Dino Melaye has already rejected the results, alleging that the poll “was marred by compromise, extreme violence, and rigging”.

Melaye described Saturday’s election as ‘helicopter election’, saying the results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were ‘fictitious’.