The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Yobe South Senatorial District election inconclusive.

The Returning Officer, Shettima Saidu of Federal University Gashua, Yobe, made the declaration in Potiskum on Monday.

He said the leading candidates, Ibrahim Bomoi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Halilu Mazagane of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 69,417 and 68,800, respectively.

Mr Saidu, however, said the lead margin of 617 votes between the candidates was less than the total votes cancelled in the election.

The returning officer said the cancellation was made at Manawaci 003 polling unit in the Fika Local Government following incidents of over voting and other irregularities.

Mr Saidu said the cancellation was mandatory as the total number of valid votes exceeded the total number of accredited voters in the unit, which had 1,118 registered voters.

He said a fresh election would be conducted in the district, but only between Messrs Bomoi and Mazagane.

“I want us to get it straight that the difference between the first and second positions is 617 votes. However, we had a total of 1,118 votes cancelled in the process of the election.

“If the difference was higher than the votes cancelled, then we would have declared the winner.

“But, by virtue of section 4(2)(7) of INEC Manual, where cancelled votes are higher than the lead margin, we can’t declare a winner,” he explained.

(NAN)