Bye-Election: SDP, APC Vow To Challenge PDP’s Victory

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), have expressed dismay on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and son of the Emir of Muri, Engr. Sadiq Abbas Tafida, as winner of the Jalingo/ Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency.

On the supplementary rerun election held Wednesday in the affected 24 pulling units of the constituency, the INEC Returning Officer, prof. Olarewaju Philip, while declaring the results in Jalingo on Thursday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored the highest number of 19,681 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who scored 16,379 votes, while the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and New Nigerian People's Party (NNPP) scored 12,662 and 3,646 votes, respectively, thereby declaring Engr. Sadiq Abbas Tafida of the PDP as duly-elected.

Speaking to newsmen in Jalingo, the State chairman of APC Barr. Ibrahim El-sudi, faulted the entire process and accused the PDP of perfecting the ground and robbed them of victory, having allegedly connived with the INEC to announce supplementary rerun election only for the SDP and PDP shortly after the February 3rd rerun before sudden allowing the eleven political parties to take part in the supplementary rerun.

Also the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said it has commence legal process to claim the allegedly stolen mandate of the house of representative for Jalingo/Yoro/Zing federal constituency in Taraba state.

Reacting to the declaration, Hon. Jabanyang told journalists in Jalingo, the Tataba state capital that he has already commence legar process to claim the mandate which he alleged it was stolen in connivance between the INEC and the PDP. 

"My lawyers have already commenced legal process, I won the election, INEC connived with the PDP to rig my election, I have proven evidence to show to the judiciary that my mandate was stolen, am going to follow it to the judicial conclusion to get justices.

He said there were series of manipulations to favour the PDP candidate in the election which were orchestrated by INEC staff to deny him of victory, "We had issues of cancellations in polling units where they know that I won, there were issues of over voting against BIVAS accreditations to favour the PDP candidate, all these are with my lawyers and am ready to defend the mandate which was given to me by the voters. Jabayang stated.

Sadiq Abbas Tafida polled a total of 19,681 votes to defeat other candidates.

The Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Jabayang Innocent Umar, came second with 16,379 votes while the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Malle polled 12,662 to come a third.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Olarewaju Oladapo, announced that Abbas secured 19,681 votes, to defeat other contenders.

Speaking shortly, after the announcement of the result, the winner, Sadiq Abbas Tafida expressing gratitude to Governor Agbu Kefas and expressed his commitment to collaborating with fellow candidates and the current administration to enhance the state's well-being.

"I want to appreciate the other candidates. I visited most of them to thank them and invited them to help and guide me through my tenure so that we can work together for the betterment of our constituency.

"At this time, since I have never been in government, I have to go on an assessment on what the government is doing and to see how I can complement their efforts, especially in the area of security, poverty alleviation, education (the government is doing a lot). We have to join hands together to see how we can fight this menace of poor education".