Controversy as INEC declares announcement of Binani as ‘winner’ of Adamawa Gov election ‘null, void’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared the announcement made by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Yunusa Ari, declaring Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru winner of the governorship election ‘null and void’.

The electoral umpire through its National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said the election process was clearly not concluded before the announcement was made.

The INEC REC in Adamawa State Yunusa Hudu Ari, on Sunday stirred controversy in the state’s governorship election when at about 9am he announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.

His announcement elicited protests from members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) present at the state collation centre in Yola.

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Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from 10 LGAs had been announced — and Binani was trailing Ahmadu Fintiri, the incumbent governor and PDP candidate.

The collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs was expected to commence by 11am on Sunday, and the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, Prpfessor Mohammed Mele Lamido, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election around 9am.

INEC in a tweet on its official Twitter handle on Sunday asked Nigerians to disregard the action of the Adamawa REC, who it accused of usurping the powers of the Returning Officer.

The electoral body also announced the suspension of collation of the supplementary election and directed the REC, Returning Officer and others involved to report to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja immediately.