The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Senator Adamu Aliero of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Kebbi Central Senatorial District election held on February 25.

The INEC Returning Officer, Abbas Yusuf-Bazata, who announced the result on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi, said Mr Aliero beat Governor Abubakar Bagudu to the seat.

He said that Mr Aliero scored 126,588 votes to defeat Mr Bagudu, the incumbent governor of Kebbi and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 92,389 votes.

The Returning Officer added that Abubakar Bello-Tilli of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 1,874 votes, while Umar Rufa’i of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) got 992 votes.

“Adamu Muhammad Mainasara Aliero of PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as Senator for Kebbi Central Senatorial District,” he said.

Mr Aliero, a two-term governor of the state, is the current Senator representing the zone.

He defected to the PDP when he lost the bid to get the APC endorsement during the primary to recontest for the seat.

Mr Aliero, also a former minister, thanked God and the constituents for giving him another opportunity to serve.

He said that it was a victory for all and encouraged the people to remain peaceful and respect constituted authorities. 

(NAN)