The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, as winner of the Adamawa state governorship election.
State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, made the declaration on Sunday morning, following the conclusion of the supplementary election held Saturday in the State.
Binani’s victory came after defeating the incumbent Governor, Umar Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Saturday’s election.
Meanwhile, report emerging from Daily Trust indicates that the REC Prof Yunusa Ari, declared Binani the winner midway into the collation.
It reports that results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas had been declared, while the exercise was adjourned till 11am.
It however further reports that Ari announced the final result an hour before the scheduled time.
NigeriaCheck Newspaper gathered that the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP, was leading before the pronouncement was made.
Some PDP supporters in the hall had queried why the announcement was made by the REC instead of the returning officer.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reacted to the report that Senator Aisha Binani was declared winner of the Adamawa governorship poll.
INEC, in a statement by its National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye, described the announcement as misplaced.
It noted that the action of the REC was a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer, and therefore described it as null, void, and of no effect.
Part of the statement reads; “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.
“2. 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 the results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.
“3. The REC, Returning Officer, and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.”