YOLA, Nigeria – In a shocking case of mistaken identity, a former vice chancellor of Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, was mistaken for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa state, Hudu Ari.
The former vice-chancellor, who INEC sent to monitor the election, was assaulted by an angry mob on Sunday, April 16, 2023, seeking to overturn the election results.
May God not allow us to be victims of mistaken identity.
The man on the left is a former vice chancellor of Usmanu danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Who was sent by INEC to monitor election. While the one on the right is INEC's resident electoral commissioner for Adamawa state. pic.twitter.com/5W7xwnjWbl— 99% OPPRESSED. (@PIDOMNIGERIA) April 17, 2023
The Adamawa REC, who is not legally empowered to announce election results, allegedly took a bribe and announced Aisha Binani of the APC as Governor-elect, despite the fact that collation of results was still ongoing.
According to a political Twitter handle, @PIDOMNIGERIA, Hudu Ari, who was not even the returning officer of the election, “reportedly lost his senses due to the two billion naira cash bribe and committed open treason on national television”.
But the juicy bribe of two billion naira cash, made him to lose his senses. He went ahead to commit open treason, on national television. Words got into town about his action, so people set out to look for him, to upturn the result he just announced, and confess the truth.
— 99% OPPRESSED. (@PIDOMNIGERIA) April 17, 2023
Following the announcement, word spread about the INEC official’s actions, and people set out to look for him in order to upturn the result he announced and demand a confession.
Unfortunately, they came across his lookalike, the former vice chancellor who was also an INEC commissioner, and mistook him for Hudu Ari. The senior citizen was beaten and almost stripped naked as the mob demanded that he confess and upturn the result.
The former vice-chancellor repeatedly insisted that he was not the REC, but the mob refused to listen.
The incident highlights the dangerous consequences of misinformation and the importance of verifying facts before taking action.
Controversy as INEC Debunks Declaration of APC’s Binani as Adamawa Guber Winner, Suspends Collation
YOLA, Nigeria – In a surprising turn of events, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the Adamawa gubernatorial election.
The announcement comes on the heels of a supplementary election held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, with the collation process now suspended.
The Adamawa gubernatorial contest is between incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Binani.
Barrister Hudu Yunusa, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa State, initially declared Binani as the winner on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
However, INEC released a statement shortly after, citing that the declaration was a “usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer” and thus “null, void and of no effect.”
The statement, signed by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner for Information & Voter Education, emphasised that the collation of results from the supplementary election has been suspended.
3. The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission's Headquarters in Abuja immediately.
Detailed statement to follow shortly.Barr. Festus Okoye
National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 16, 2023
It also invited the REC, Returning Officer, and all involved parties to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja for further clarification.
With the collation process now on hold, the final outcome of the Adamawa gubernatorial election remains uncertain.
The INEC’s intervention in the matter raises questions about the integrity of the election process and has left the residents of Adamawa State anxiously awaiting further developments.
The attempt by Tinubu pre-Presidency to ridicule Atiku in Adamawa is funny. Fintiri clearly won the election but it is funny the REC was instructed from Abuja to declare Binani as the winner. It is over for democracy. Everyone should move on. It is going to be a long lonely ride.
— Premier (@SodiqTade) April 16, 2023
INEC has promised to release a detailed statement shortly, which will shed more light on the situation and provide guidance on the next steps in the electoral process.
Until then, the people of Adamawa State and the candidates involved must wait for a resolution to this unprecedented controversy.
Journalists Barred from Adamawa INEC Collation Centre Amidst Protests
On Saturday, April 15, 2023, police officers stationed at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Adamawa State denied accredited journalists access to the state collation centre.
The exclusion of the media has raised concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
Journalists, who had already been accredited for both presidential and gubernatorial elections, were surprised when they were turned away by the police.
According to the officers, they possessed a separate list of accredited journalists who would be granted access to the collation centre at a later time.
Sources revealed to Daily Trust that there are ongoing attempts to relocate the INEC collation centre from its current location on Bank Road to Dougerei.
This development has sparked a series of protests by supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who vowed to resist any attempt to tamper with the governorship election results.
As of the time of filing this report, some collation officers were already present at the collation centre, and the sorting of votes was underway.
The situation has raised questions about the transparency of the electoral process in Adamawa State, with the exclusion of journalists adding to the concerns.
Observers and stakeholders are calling for immediate intervention by INEC and relevant authorities to ensure that the electoral process remains transparent and credible.
