The Taraba governorship election is probably one of the most watched by Nigerians because one of the leading candidates is Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, fondly known as Mama Taraba. Many Nigerians had expected that the election would yield the first female governor in Nigeria’s history.
As results of the election from the Local Government areas trickled into the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, her supporters began to celebrate her imminent victory.
But after all the results were collated, Ms. Al-Hassan trailed behind the PDP candidate by over 50,000 votes.
INEC’s Returning Officer for the election, Professor Muhammad Kariey, said there has to be a supplementary election because the total number of votes rejected and cancelled were more than the total votes with which the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Darius Ishaku led the runner-up, the All Progressives Congress’ Aisha Al-Hassan.
The electoral body declared the election inconclusive and said a supplementary election will be held within 30 days.
