By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
Mr. Haruna Barnabas of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the re-run election of Chawai/Kauru 2023 House of Assembly election in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Returning Officer, Professor Mohammed Sani Salau said that Haruna Barnabas scored 23,687 votes to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Yohana Chawai with 23,656 votes.
According to him, “I, Professor Mohammed Sani Salau, hereby satisfied that l am the Returning Officer of Chawai/Kauru 2023 House of Assembly election which was held on 15th April, 2023 that Haruna Barnabas of the APC, having satisfied the law, has been returned unopposed and declared winner of the election.”
He said that the House of Assembly election in the constituency was declared inconclusive, saying that following the laws of INEC governing the operation of the exercise in the matter, two polling units and in two wards on 15 April, 2023 was scheduled for the re-run election.
He explained that in Kwassam ward, the re-run took place in a ward and had only 50 registered members of voters but only 45 accredited voters came out for the election, pointing out that APC had 28 votes and PDP had 11 votes, while 6 votes were rejected.
The Returning Officer stated that in Kauru East ward, in Kahuta polling unit, there were 995 registered voters but 419 accredited voters came for the election, adding that 464 voters were accredited in the two wards.
He said APC polled 338 votes and PDP polled 111 votes in the re-run election.
Samuel Arabo, the PDP collection officer for the re-run House of Assembly election in Karau local government area described the election was a real scandal, saying, “The eligible voters were intimidated by thugs who caused confusion in the place and did not allow the voters to exercise their franchise. The voters were denied the opportunity to cast their votes because when PDP was leading, the only way the APC could do was to caused confusion through their thugs and as a result of the whole confusion, PDP did not sign the result.”
The PDP House of Assembly for Chawai/Kauru, Yohana Chawai described the re-run election that to any right thinking man, it as the best movie of year, 2023, saying that it was a comedy that was marked with action thereby getting what they wanted at all cost.
He expressed gratitude for the party to have given him the chance to fly its ticket in the 2023 House of Assembly in the local government area and called on all party supporters to remain calm every ever they found
