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.
