By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
P9O Newsletter
Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our investigative stories, breaking news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
  • Home
  • Nigeria
  • Politics
  • Metro
  • World
  • Lifestlye
  • Football
  • 2023 Election
Reading: Returning Officer: "I was forced to rig for APC"
Prime 9ja Online
Prime 9ja Online Prime 9ja Online
Aa
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Football
  • Metro
  • Nigeria
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Technology
Search
  • Categories
  • _Football
  • _Lifestyle
  • _World
  • _Metro
  • _Politics
  • _Nigeria
  • Pages
  • _About Us
  • _Contact Us
  • _Privacy Policy
Follow Us
Politics

Returning Officer: "I was forced to rig for APC"

In a stunning turn of events, the credibility of the 2023 Tudun Wada/Doguwa House of Representatives election has been questioned. Professor...

Chima Joseph Ugo
Chima Joseph Ugo - Editor-in-chief March 10, 2023
Updated March 10, 2023 at 3:40 PM
Share
Returning Officer: "I was forced to rig for APC"
SHARE

Returning Officer: "I was forced to rig for APC"
In a stunning turn of events, the credibility of the 2023 Tudun Wada/Doguwa House of Representatives election has been questioned. Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasal, the returning officer for the election, has denounced the result he previously declared, stating that it was the product of duress and should be disregarded.

Yakasal, a pharmacy professor at Bayero University in Kano, was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the Tudun Wada/Doguwa House of Representative election. He had previously announced that Ado Doguwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had won the election with 39,732 votes, defeating his closest rival, Yushau Salisu Abdullahi of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who had polled 34,798 votes.

However, in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Yakasal stated that he was made to announce the result under duress, as his life was physically put in danger. According to his letter, the collation area was completed under siege, with people threatening to burn down the INEC facility if he did not declare the result within one hour. He claims that he was utterly traumatised, hopeless, and confused, which prevented him from working by the Electoral Act and election guidelines.

Yakasal’s letter reads: “I served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 Tudun Wada/Doguwa House of Representatives elections whose results were declared by me on the 26th February 2023. However, I would like to testify that the declaration was made under duress for fear of losing my life and that other INEC officials were with me. The collation area was completed under siege, threatening to burn down the INEC facility if I did not declare the result within one hour. I was utterly traumatised, hopeless and confused, which did not give me the stability of mind to work by the Electoral Act and election guidelines as areas or polling units where the elections were cancelled, the total number of accredited voters was not compared with a margin of the scores that led to the declaration and finally the situation my colleagues and found ourselves could not allow us to attend to the complaints of non-use of BVAS in some polling units.

“I hope my statement would be kindly looked at and necessary action to be taken in accordance with section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.”

Following Yakasal’s statement, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, was arrested by the Nigerian police and subsequently arraigned in court for electoral violence. INEC has also taken action, removing Doguwa’s name from the House of Representatives members-elect list.

This turn of events has questioned the election’s credibility and raised concerns about the safety of election officials in Nigeria. It is imperative that necessary action is taken to ensure the safety and security of election officials in future elections and that the electoral process is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner. The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it.

Tags: Politics

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share this Article
Facebook WhatsApp TwitterEmail Print

You Might Also Like

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Pinterest Pin
Telegram Subscribe
Prime 9ja Online

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our latest updates instantly on your email.

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Disclaimer
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Corrections and Correctives
  • Editorial Integrity
  • Ethical Conduct
  • Funding

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Submit a Tip

© 2025 Prime 9ja Online Media - All Rights Reserved.

Follow Us