By Ahmad Deedat Zakari
Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, Returning Officer of the Tudun Wada/ Doguwa House of Representatives Election, has admitted to declaring the election results under duress.
The Professor made this known in a voluntary statement dated February 28, 2023.
According to Professor Yakasai, his life and that of other INEC officials in his company were threatened, and he was afraid he would lose his life. He added that the collation area was completely under siege by hoodlums, and he was ordered to declare the results within an hour.
“I served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 Tudun Wada/ Doguwa House of Representatives Election, whose Result was declared by me on the 26th February, 2023. However, I will want to testify that the declaration I made was under duress for fear of losing my life and other INEC officials who were with me. ” He wrote in the statement.
He further stated that the situation made it impossible for him to act in accordance with the extant provisions of the Electoral Act.
On his reason for the disclosure, Professor Yakasai said he is testifying with the hope that necessary actions be taken to remedy the situation. However, Professor Yakasai refused to disclose whose bidding he was coerced to carry out then.
INEC has already declined to issue a Certificate of Return to Mr Doguwa, the Majority Leader at the outgoing National Assembly, for the same reason. A court in Kano granted the embattled lawmaker bail after being arrested for murder charges last week.