The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the governorship election in Taraba State inconclusive.
The INEC Returning Officer for the state, Professor Muhammad Kariey, said the decision was reached as the total number of votes between the leading candidate – Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – and his closest contender – Aisha Al-Hasan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – was less than the number of votes which were declared invalid.
Ishaku had amassed 317,198 votes while Al-Hasan garnered 262,386 votes, with over 100,000 votes voided.
Professor Kariey announced that a rerun would be held on the affected areas in the state within 30 days.
Meanwhile in the aftermath of INEC’s announcement, 3 people were reportedly killed on Monday, April 13, 2015 as rival supporters clashed in the Taraba State capital, Jalingo.
The house of the Secretary to the State Government was said to have been razed in the ensuing violence.