Yakowa’s PDP wins Kaduna State

After several hours of sitting on the chair’s edge by many, the INEC’s  Returning Officer in Kaduna state, Prof. Abdullahi Mustafa who is the Vice Chancellor of  Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has declared Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of the PDP as winner of the just concluded governorship election in Kaduna State which took place in the 23 local government in the state.

Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa

To pull this feat, Yakowa secured 1,334,319 votes in the 5,102 polling centres where the election took place. With this, he defeated CPC’s Haruna Sa’eed who secured 1,133,564 votes, ACN’s Sani Sha’aban who polled 20,094 votes, Muktar Aruwa of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) who had 33,142 votes and Balarabe Musa, PRP who had 21,200 voters acknowledgement. The opposition has however alleged that there were substantial cases of irregularity by the PDP.  A total of 3,689,340 voters were registered in the state; 2,516,144 were enfranchised with 34,350 votes recorded as invalid during the election.

The governor elect on his website has meanwhile appreciated the support given by Kaduna voters. ‘I on behalf of my Family and the PDP Family use this medium to express my profound gratitude to Kaduna Voters.’ Unconfirmed news as at ‘blogging time’ also has it that the Mallam Isa Yuguda of the PDP also defeated his closest rival, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar of the CPC with about 500,000 votes.

Militants demand arrest of Ciroma, Buhari, Babangida et al

Some Niger Delta Militants

The Joint Revolutionary Council, a group in the Niger Delta region in a statement by its spokesperson, Bakabio Walter has threatened to revenge the recent killing in the northern part of Nigeria following the presidential post election crisis. The group finds it ‘unfortunate that those who submitted themselves to the process refused to adhere to the layed down laws, rules and regulation enshrined in the Nigerian Electoral Act. Instead they resorted to violence in Northern Nigeria.’ The JRF also believes that ‘the northern quartet rallied round and joined forces with General Muhammadu Buhari and his northern-based CPC in a bid to promote their Northern Regional bias. General Muhammadu Buhari tried to absolve himself of the massacre and mayhem in the north, but there are evidences to prove that he and the northern quartet were the mastermind. Before the beginning of the electoral process he said severally that Nigeria would become another Somalia. He also promised an uprising if the PDP prevents him from winning. The biggest of them all was when he alleged that the ruling party flew millions of ballot papers to several parts of the country in the previous night before the election day. In that reckless remark, he rejected the possible outcome of the election and vowed that he would never challenge the result of election in court neither will he contest in any election after 2011. With this comment, he set the tone for the sporadic violence and massacre of the lives of 10,000 innocent civilians of southern extraction in the north.

The statement further reads – ‘It is sad that when statesmen were patriotically calling for the arrest and trial of General Muhammadu Buhari, he and his supporters dared the Nigerian government to arrest him and see the consequence.’ The body is finally demanding ‘the arrest and trial of Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Aliyu Gusau. This should also include, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. Failing which, we shall mobilize our people to visit vengeance and anger on all Hausa and Fulani people we can find inside and outside our region. We deliberately waited for the end of elections to make this well-thought-out declaration as we did not want to be dragged into the murky water of Nigeria politics.’

Two wrongs have never made a right. I think the federal government needs to take this serious and calm deeply frayed nerve. An implosion is not what Nigeria needs now. Someone should please tell and plead with the JRC to sheath their swords.

Northern Nigeria Guber Result

Tuesday 26th April, 2011 was another day for political decision making through the power of the thumb. Nigerians went to poll to decide who deserves to steer the affairs of their states for another 4 years. From the feelers of observers and citizens, it is very unlikely that the Election tribunal would be kept busy as the election was largely adjudged free and fair. Candidates who lost out and their political platforms would however decide whether or not to opt for the tribunal to be sure their mandates, if they had one, were not stolen.

Elections held in 24 out of 36 states in the country. 12 states are scheduled to hold elections on later dates, amongst them are Sokoto and Adamawa. The Governors stay in office in these states is yet to run out.

An INEC Staff busy with accreditation

The following emerged victorious -

NASARAWA     CPC              UMARU TANKO AL‐MAKURA

YOBE             ANPP            ALH. IBRAHIM GAIDAM

BORNO           ANPP            KASHIM SHETTIMA

ZAMFARA        ANPP            ABDUL‐AZIZ YARI ABUBAKAR

JIGAWA          PDP              SULE LAMIDO

NIGER            PDP              DR. MUAZU BABANGIDA ALIYU

PLATEAU        PDP              JONAH DAVID JANG

TARABA          PDP              DANBABA DANFULANI SUNTA

KATSINA         PDP              BARR. IBRAHIM SHEHU SHEMA

KEBBI            PDP              SAIDU USMAN NASAALU

KANO            PDP              MOHAMMED RABIU M.K.

KWARA          PDP              ALH. ABDULLAHI AHMED

GOMBE          PDP              IBRAHIM HASSAN DANKWAMBO

As at the time of writing this, Kaduna and Bauchi results were still being counted.

Kaduna's turn at the Guber poll

As calm gradually returns to Kaduna after the recent post-presidential election in Kaduna all seems to be set for tomorrow’s gubernatorial, house of assembly and senatorial elections. While nobody is certain of what the output of the election will be. The real issue is what the aftermath of the election would bring with it. Markets were well patronized today as most households sought to buy basic necessities in case it becomes impossible to move around after the election. Soldiers were seen mounting barricades at different spots and mobile policemen patrolling the city. 

The gubernatorial election is keenly contested by the incumbent, Governor Inrahim Patrick Yakowa of the PDP, Huruna Sa’aed of the CPC,  Sani Sha’aban of the ACN and Balarabe Musa of the PRP. Text messages to discredit the CPC candidate were sent to a large number of citizens yesterday. The CPC is however leaving no stone unturned to record success at the pole. Alhaji Balarabe Musa selling point has been his claim of incorruptibility. Meanwhile, in a widely publicized interview, the ACN candidate stated that he was willing to step down for any credible candidate. A dusk to dawn curfew still holds sway in Kaduna.

A soldier manning a check point at Mando axis

Kaduna boy encourages all to step out and vote and also leave violence out of the electioneering process. No one benefits from violence. 

Birthing Kaduna Boy

At last. The deal was to have this blog up, fast and running before the 27th of April, 2011. That just happened. Kaduna Boy would drop bits, crumbs and the whole, when necessary on happenings in Kaduna and any other of such that would be of importance to Kaduna residents. I believe this has come to stay. Welcome all. Happy reading. I look forward to doing this as much as I look forward to your contributions. 


Yours,
Kaduna Boy.