In a surprising turn of events early Sunday morning, Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Yunusa Hudu Ari, made an unexpected appearance at the Adamawa State Governorship collation center and declared Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the state governorship election.
Prior to this announcement, official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, the incumbent, leading with a margin of 31,249 votes. Fintiri had secured 421,524 votes, while Senator Ahmed, also known as Binani, trailed with 390,275 votes. However, the state returning officer, Professor Mohammed Mele, a Professor of English and Linguistics from the University of Maiduguri, was unable to declare a winner due to the margin of lead not exceeding the number of canceled votes in 69 polling units, which had a total of 37,016 Permanent Voter Cards collected.
As the collation of results from the supplementary polls held across the state on Saturday resumed, tensions rose when the Adamawa REC unexpectedly appeared at the collation center at 9:00 am, despite having previously suspended the exercise until 11 am. Ari proceeded to declare Binani the winner, sparking confusion and drama at the center.
According to The PUNCH, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was in the lead, based on results from 10 councils declared in the supplementary polls at the time of reporting. Fintiri had won in Demsa, Lamurde, Jada, Ganye, Song, Maiha, Hong, and Shelleng, while Senator Binani had secured victories in Yola North and Yola South.
Breaking News:
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.— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 16, 2023
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
In response to these events, INEC took to Twitter to urge Nigerians to disregard the actions of Adamawa REC, who overstepped his authority by declaring a winner while the results of the supplementary polls were still being tallied. The tweet highlighted that only the returning officer, Professor Mohammed Mele, has the power to make such a declaration.
PRESS RELEASE
Suspension of Collation in the Adamawa Governorship Election pic.twitter.com/llq3MwAkiv— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 16, 2023
