INEC declares APC candidate, Ahmed Babba Kaita winner of Katsina bye-election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Katsina State has declared Alhaji Ahmed Babba Kaita of the All Progressives Congress (APC ), as the winner of the bye election conducted in the Katsina North Senatorial District.

Prof Hudu Ayuba-Abdullahi, the returning officer, who announced the result at 4:42 am in Daura on Sunday said Kaita, a member of the House of Representatives scored 224,607 votes, while his elder brother and a retired customs officer, Alhaji Kabir Babba Kaita of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 59,724 votes.

Abdullahi said the total number of registered voters was 864,046. The number of accredited voters was 308,500.

According to him, the total votes cast was 294,050, out of which 287,155 votes were counted as valid and 10,891 rejected.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that six political parties contested for the seat, which became vacant after the death of Senator Bukar Mustapha. Apart from the APC and PDP, the other parties that took part in the election were Democratic Alliance (DA),Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) MNM and MPN.

Malam Habibu Suleiman the agent of the PDP who signed the results, as declared, alleged some irregularities.