PDP Candidate Kicks As INEC Declares APC’s Garbai Winner Of Borno Central Senatorial Bye-election

Baba Kaka Bashir GarbaiThe Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai, winner of Saturday’s Borno Central Senatorial bye-election with 120, 639 votes.

The INEC Returning Officer for the bye-election, Prof. Mohammed Fannami, while announcing the results, said Garbai of the APC certified the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes.

The bye-election took place following the death of APC Senator, Ahmed Zanna, on May 16, 2015.

A breakdown of the results of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the two major political parties at Saturday’s bye-election as declared by the returning officer, showed the following figures; Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC): APC-45, 872; PDP-20, 364; Jere Local Government Area (LGA): APC-25, 540; PDP-6, 240; Bama LGA: APC-7, 277; PDP-2, 185; Ngala LGA: APC-17, 697; PDP-360; Dikwa LGA: APC-3, 430; PDP-672; Mafa LGA: APC-7, 683; PDP-352; Kala-Balge LGA: APC-5, 664; PDP-373; Konduga LGA: APC-7, 476; PDP-1, 300

It was also learnt that the bye-election took place in a peaceful atmosphere across the eight local government areas that make up Borno Central Senatorial District.

Electorates, who have not returned to their LGAs, cast their votes at designated polling units in various IDP camps within Maiduguri metropolis.

Delivering his victory speech, Garbai said the people of Borno Central Senatorial District had spoken through the ballot and that he was the Senator representing the zone.

“It is a clear testimony of the fact that the people of the zone have confidence in my ability to deliver. They also have confidence in government of Borno state, because the government throughout the four years of Governor Kashim Shettima has really worked for the people”, he added.

Garbai, who expressed gratitude to Governor Shettima, other state politicians and the people of his senatorial zone, said there are a lot of expectations of him as a person and now, senator.

Reacting to the outcome of the bye-election, the PDP candidate, Kaka Umar Bolori, rejected the results declared by INEC, alleging that the electoral body and the police were compromised.