INEC removes Doguwa from Reps members-elect list, set to conduct supplementary poll for Kano constituency

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it will conduct supplementary elections in the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State following the delisting of the incumbent House of Representatives member representing the constituency, Alhassan Ado Doguwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

INEC also already removed the embattled lawmaker’s name from the list of House of Representatives members-elect for the 10^th session of the National Assembly.

The development also follows a letter written by the Returning Officer for the federal constituency elections, Ibrahim Yakassai who had claimed that he wrote the result of the elections conducted in the area under duress.

It would be recalled that the embattled Reps member was arrested by the police, last week, for his alleged involvement in the killing of several persons and burning of the Secretariat of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) during the just concluded February 25 presidential and National Assembly election.

Doguwa who was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Kano, while boarding a flight to Abuja, was, released on bail, last Tuesday, but now facing murder charges.

“He also used the pistol of his orderly and fired at several persons. So we have arrested him in connection to murder and arson.

“He is currently cooling off in the state Criminal Investigation Department,” a source disclosed.

The police had affirmed no fewer than three persons were killed when the campaign secretariat of the party located in the Tudunwada area of the state was set on fire.

Two persons were also burnt to death during the crisis that broke out during the collation of the results of Doguwa/Tudunwada House of Representatives election, which was announced to have been won by Dogunwa.

However, while briefing journalists, Dogunwa denied his involvement and disclosed he was yet to receive any formal invitation from the police.

“I never held a gun. I don’t even know how to hold a gun,” Dogunwa said.

However, a letter written by the Returning Officer (RO) of INEC for the constituency, Ibrahim Yakasai accused Dogunwa of forcing him to write the election results which produced him as winner.

The constituency is that of the embattled leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who standing trial for culpable homicide.

Yakasai claimed the initial election results that were allegedly announced by him was made under duress. He stated that INEC, in compliance with the provisions of the electoral act, had reviewed the results.

Announcing the reviewed results, he stated that “the reviewed elections results stand as follows, APC 39,732, NNPP 34, 798, PDP 7,091.”

He also explained that there were cancellations of results in 13 polling units.

He added that “the total number of votes domiciled in the polling units that were cancelled had submerged the margin of votes difference cast in favour of the duo of APC and NNPP”.

He further explained that the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in the 13 polling units that were cancelled stood at 6,917 as against the over 4,000 votes margin between the APC and NNPP.

Yakasai said that INEC will conduct supplementary elections in the affected units to determine the winner of the February 25 Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency poll.

His letter read: “I served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 Tudun Wada/Doguwa House of Representatives elections whose results were declared by me on the 26th February, 2023.

“However, I will like to testify that the declaration made was under duress for fear of losing my life and other INEC officials who were with me. The collation area was completed under siege, threatening to burn down the INEC facility if I did not declare the result within one hour. I was completely traumatised, hopeless and confused which did not give me the stability of mind to work in accordance with the Electoral Act and election guidelines as areas or polling units where the elections were cancelled, the total number of accredited voters were not compared with margin of the scores that led to the declaration and finally the situation my colleagues and found ourselves could not give us the opportunity to attend to the complaints of non-use of BVAS in some polling units.

“I hope my statement would be kindly looked at and necessary action to be taken in accordance with section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.”