The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has made clarification on the purported declaration of the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress Senator Aishatu Binani as the winner of the Adamawa Governorship election rerun.
The Resident Electoral Officer, REC, in Adamawa state, Prof Hudu Yudus Ari, who is not the Returning Office, RO, officer as legally required controversially declared the APC Governorship Candidate as governor-elect even when the supplementary election results from 10 out of 20 Local Governments Area are still being collated.
Bar Festus Okoye,National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee confirmed this in a signed statement that reads: The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to the purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa State Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer and therefore null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of the result of the supplementary election held yesterday 15th April 2023 is suspended forthwith.
The REC for Adamawa State and all other officials involved in the process are hereby directed to report immediately to INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Also,the Commission expressed worry over the harassment of our two National Commissioners deployed to the State to ensure a peaceful and credible supplementary election. We urge the security agencies to provide them with necessary security and ensure that nothing untoward befalls them.
The two National Commissioners, the Returning Officer and other staff of the Commission must be allowed to perform their duties without let or hinderance.
The Commission stated that it will not condone any act of lawlessness or brigandage targetted at our officials or the process.
