The All Progressives Congress has commended the electorate for the massive turnout in Saturday’s Kaura Namoda South state assembly constituency by-election in Zamfara.

The election, however, was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The results of the election announced by the returning officer, Lawal Sa’adu, showed that the APC polled 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party scored 5,339 votes.

Mr Sa’adu said the margin between the leading political party and the runner-up was less than the total number of Permanent Voter Cards collected in the polling units where the elections were cancelled.

According to him, the margin between the two leading political parties, the APC and PDP, is 1,662 and is less than the 3,265 collected Permanent Voter Cards in the affected polling units.

Reacting to the election outcome, in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday, the APC spokesman in Zamfara, Yusuf Idris, described the electorate’s support for the party during the by-election as timely.

“The state APC chapter wishes to appreciate the kind support and resilience of the electorate during the elections, despite all the challenges. We appreciate the people of Kaura Namoda South State Assembly Constituency for turning out en masse and voting for APC in spite of the harassment from thugs and members of Zamfara Community Protection Guards in the polling units.

“The by-election has shown the strength and continued acceptance of the party in the state by the electorate,” he said.

Mr Idris added that APC was very much appreciative of the voters as it was leading with over 1,600 votes, adding , “This is a clear indication of where the people’s faith lies. Although the results for the election were declared inconclusive, we are confident that the electoral umpire, INEC, will not allow itself to be used for the denial of the rights of the electorate.

“We also appreciate our leaders, Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for their constant support and encouragement to the operations and management of the party in the state. We call on members and supporters of the APC and members of the public to remain calm,” he added.

(NAN)