The Guardian reliably gathered that the discovery prompted protest from representatives of some political parties, who called for the destruction of the excess voting materials to stem rigging.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Kassim Gana Gaidam, while confirming the discovery of the excess voters' cards, however, resolved that they be kept at INEC store, during which reserve keys were handed over to parties to ensure that no one tampered with them.
He dismissed any insinuation that the excess cards were deliberately included to rig the election in favour of any political party and its candidate, describing it as human error.
He said: "It could have been a human and technical error during the counting process. Thank God the distribution of this sensitive material was done in an open and transparent manner.
"We all, including party officials, have resolved that the excess cards be kept in our store and they have the keys to avoid tampering."
Also confirming the development, state chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Ibrahim Bappa Waziri, Legal Adviser, Mr. Sanda Lamorde and Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN's) legal adviser, who were at the INEC office, vowed to keep vigil over the excess cards.
"About 54,860 excess voters' cards were found, a situation that bleeds our hearts. But we will monitor the election religiously, so as to avoid being rigged out," Waziri said.
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