The Independent National Electoral Commission has reversed the announcement made to the effect that Senator Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as the winner of the Adamawa Governorship election.
Prof Hudu Yunus Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa, had declared Binani as the winner midway into the collation.
Results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas had been declared while the exercise was adjourned till 11am. However, Ari announced the final result an hour before the scheduled time.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party was leading before the pronouncement was made. Some PDP supporters in the hall protested why the announcement was made by the REC instead of the returning officer.
But in a swift reaction, INEC’s National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education, Festus Okoye, tweeted that the announcement was “null and void”
In a terse statement on INEC’s verified handle, @inecnigeria, Okoye wrote that “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of a winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded. 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.”