Jigawa By-election: PDP Defeats APC at Defence Minister’s Polling Unit
Jigawa state - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defeated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polling unit of Nigeria’s minister of defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, during the Garki/Babura federal constituency by-election in Jigawa state.
According to Guardian Nigeria, the PDP secured 308 votes while the APC, to which the minister belongs, polled 112 at polling unit 001, located at Babura Kofar Arewa Primary School.
Source: Facebook
The newspaper further reported that Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa and a senior APC chieftain, cast his vote on Saturday, August 16, under tight security but declined to speak to journalists afterwards.
Legit.ng gathers that officials and observers said the by-election in the Garki-Babura federal constituency was peaceful.
“The election went well without any issue,” Ibrahim Shehu, the polling officer at Badaru’s unit, was quoted as saying.
Jigawa by-election: Minister speaks
At another polling centre, Primary Yamma (005), the minister of state for education, Suwaiba Ahmad, praised the orderly conduct of the exercise and expressed confidence that the APC would eventually prevail in the wider contest, though he also allegedly lost his polling unit.
Residents in some parts of the constituency continued with their normal activities as shops remained open, though election officials reported relatively high voter turnout across most polling units.
Legit.ng notes that despite the ministers' reported defeats in their polling units, the APC candidate, Rabiu Mukhtar, won the by-election. According to Premium Times, INEC's returning officer, Sani Ismail, announced the results in the Babura local government collation centre on Sunday morning, August 17.
Ismail, a professor, said Mukhtar polled 38,449 votes to defeat his main rival, Isah Auwalu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 13,519 votes.
Jigawa by-election results: Analyst speaks
Reacting, a political analyst familiar with the dynamics of Jigawa politics described the results as a "confirmation of the defence minister's political irrelevance"
“This is clear that Badaru, whilst serving in the government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as minister of defence, has his men, who were seen jubilating after the results were announced in the ward, working for the opposition. This means his men are comfortable in the PDP, working hard against the APC government," the analyst who spoke anonymously said.
“It took the intervention of the state governor, who is seen to be performing in terms of project delivery to the masses and improved welfare for all, to rescue the situation and save the APC from total disgrace,” he added.
Abubakar has been under pressure to resign as minister over his alleged inability to add value to the party either in Jigawa state, the Northwest and nationally.
Source: Legit.ng
