The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has stated that the declaration of Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Adamawa state governorship election is null and void.
Yunusa Ari, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) of INEC in Adamawa, had declared Binani winner on Sunday, causing controversy.
The collation of results in the state was suspended on Saturday night after results from 10 LGAs were announced.
Based on the announced figures, Binani was trailing Ahmadu Fintiri, the incumbent governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.
The collation of the remaining 10 LGAs results was expected to commence by 11 am on Sunday.
Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.
Meanwhile, according to sections 64 and 65 of the electoral act, only Lamido is empowered to declare the winner of the election.
In a statement signed by Festus Okoye, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of, information and voter education committee, INEC described the REC’s declaration as null and void, saying it does not hold.
The commission, therefore, suspended the collation of results and invited the REC, returning officer and all those involved in the collation process, to its headquarters in Abuja.
“The attention of the commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded,” the statement reads.
“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect.
“Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.
“The REC, returning officer and all involved are hereby invited to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja immediately.”