The Sokoto State chapter of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has rejected the result of the Saturday's governorship election in Sokoto State.
INEC on Sunday declared the immediate-past governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko of the PDP, as the winner of the election, having polled 518,247 votes to beat 29 other contestants.
The Acting Secretary of CPC in the state, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, said his party “has totally rejected” the outcome of the election as declared by INEC.
In an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto, Ahmed alleged that the election was marred with irregularities, including ballot box snatching and stuffing.
He said the party would meet on Tuesday to decide the next line of action.
The running-mate of the ANPP gubernatorial candidate in the election, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu, said his party would not accept the result of the election announced.
He also alleged that the election was marred by intimidation of his party's supporters, insecurity and ballot box snatching.
Dalhatu, whose party had earlier in the day rejected the outcome of the election before it was officially announced, said top officials of the party would meet soon to consider the next line of action.
Meanwhile a female activist, Hajiya Halima Baba, has called on the losers to join hands with the winner in ensuring rapid political and socio-economic development of the state.
Baba said, since all the contestants wanted progress for the state and its people, as well as realised that only one of them could win, they should sheath their swords and cooperate in the interest of the people.
In the same vein, a lecturer at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Malam Mohammad Sajo, described the election as free and fair and appealed to the losers to embrace peace and work with the winner.
Sajo said the people of the state, the INEC and the security agents should be commended for making the election a success.
In his contribution, a Sokoto-based lawyer, Alhaji Nasiru Binji, implored the contestants to respect the will of the electorate in good faith.
Binji noted that Nigerians are in dire need of basic infrastructures and called on elected representatives to work towards aleviating the suffering of the masses.?