Collation of governorship result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area in Bauchi state has commenced at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) head office.
The session is being chaired by a new collation officer, Dr Musa Dahiru, based on a direction by INEC, to replace the former officer, Mrs Dominion Anosike who had earlier written to the commission that her life was in danger.
INEC Resident Commissioner for Bauchi, Ibrahim Abdullahi explained that the results that were carted away, are being regenerated, and will be submitted to the state collation officer.
“What they are doing is that they are submitting the regenerated or reconstructed result which was carted away, from the ward to the local government collation officer. After that, the local government collation officer will come to the state collation officer, submit this report after which the state collation officer will round up, declare and return the winner”.
He further explained that; “section 6 and 7 of the INEC regulation and guidelines for 2019 general elections provides that once there is violence when results are destroyed or taken away, the collation officer is supposed to regenerate using the duplicate results, after which, with the permission of the Resident Electoral Commissioner is required.”
“As it is, I have given my permission and the regeneration has taken place, which the ward collation officers are now formally presenting to the local government collation officer who will, in turn, present it to the state collation/returning officer.”