The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, appeared to be leading in a landslide at the close of polls in a number of polling stations in some local government areas.

Results received last night from the polling units showed that El-Rufa’i had beaten his opponent, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, by a wide margin. The margin further widened as results were received in the local government areas including Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi, Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Sabon Gari, Giwa, Makarfi, Ikara, Kagarko, Kachia, Kauru, Jaba, Kaura and Lere.

Results emerging from various poling units across the local government areas in Northern Senatorial District of Kaduna state indicated that the All Progressive Congress (APC) took an early lead in the gubernatorial and state assembly elections that took place yesterday.

In the Kwankira polling unit 013, where Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero voted, the results show that the governor has won his polling unit with wide margin. His party PDP scored 316 against APC’s 61, while in the state assembly, PDP scored 278 against APC’s 178.

In the neighbouring polling unit, PDP scored 273 against APC’s 109 in the governor’s race, while the state assembly election showed that PDP had secured 288 votes against APC’s 170.

However, result obtained from Gidan Bayye 008 polling unit of Tudun Jukun area of Zaria shows that APC scored 225 in the gubernatorial race against PDP’s 9 while APC scored 229 against PDP’s 8 in the state assembly.

In the same Tudun Jukun area at Unguwan Mahauta polling unit APC scored 742 against PDP’s 15 in the gubernatorial race, while APC scored 732 against PDP’s 15 in the State assembly’s election.

In booth 005 of the same area, APC scored 601 against PDP’s 26 in governor’s race, while APC scored 603 against PDP’s 22 in assembly’s election.

In Sabon Gari local government area at the two polling units that made up Anguwan Nomi APC scored 243 and 259 against PDP’s 12 and 14, respectively, in the gubernatorial race, while APC scored 243 and 249 against PDP’s 16 and 13 respectively.

In Chikaji polling unit 005 of the same local government, APC scored 444 against PDP’s 27 in the governorship election, while the state assembly result showed that APC scored 453 against PDP’s 10.

In Ikara local government area, result from Unguwan Makama polling units showed that at booth 005 APC scored 274 against PDP’s 102 in gubernatorial race, while in assembly’s election APC scored 191 against PDM’s 139 and PDP’s 41 respectively. In booth 006, APC scored 274 against PDP’s 110 in gubernatorial race, while in the assembly’s election APC scored 195 against PDM’s 138 and PDP’s 41 respectively.

Our correspondent reports that the election was generally peaceful in the northern senatorial district of Kaduna state except reports of where some politicians and even traditional rulers were alleged to have used money in inducing voters.

INEC is yet to announce the results officially but it is unlikely for Yero to close the gap at the polls.

•Credit (except for amended headline): Sunday Trust. Photo shows El-Rufai.

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