Independent National Electoral Commission ,(INEC) has declared null and void, the announcement of the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ,APC , Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, had on Saturday, April 15, declared that candidate of the All Progressives Congress won the election following the supplementary election held on Saturday.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, INEC’s National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education,Barr. Festus Okoye, said the Resident Electoral Commssioner ,Ari declared the winner “when the process has clearly not been concluded,” adding that he had no power to declare the result.
The statement read in parts :”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.
“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 results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.
“The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately” Okoye stated .