Nigeria’s ruling party leads in off-cycle election despite irregularities

In the off-cycle elections conducted in three Nigerian states over the weekend, the Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the ruling All Progressives Congress the winner in two states while the result of the other will be announced later on Monday. The elections were, however, marred by violence and malpractices according to reports…

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress party, APC, has won governorship elections in two states in the off-cycle gubernatorial polls conducted over the weekend.

The election victories came amid reports of low turnout, violence and rigging as the APC candidates won in both Imo, in the south-east, and central Kogi state.

Two people were reportedly killed during the election while trying to steal ballot boxes.

The results of the elections from the southern Bayelsa state have been delayed until Monday, the electoral umpire announced.

In Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, the incumbent governor, won with more than 540,000 votes, Samuel Anyanwu of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party came second while Labour Party’s Athan Nneji Achonu placed third.

In Kogi state, the APC’s Ahmed Usman Ododo got 446,000 votes, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came second with 260,000, while the PDP’s Dino Melaye got 46,000.

Meanwhile, former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has called on the Nigerian lawmakers to enact laws to end the off-cycle elections in the country.

He called for the harmonisation of polls to suit what is acceptable in the international settings.

Off-cycle election is an electoral exercise taking place outside the timeframe of the general polls in the country. The elder statesman described the exercise as “odd” and “not a global best practice.”