While residents of Adamawa State and people who have interest in the election awaited the results from 11 of the 21 local government areas in the state, drama broke out.
A supplementary gubernatorial election was held in Adamawa state on Saturday, April 15.
The collation started on Saturday, as the results from different Local Government Areas (LGAs) were collated.
On Sunday morning, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aisha Binani, was announced as the winner of the supplementary election.
The announcement was made by Yunusa Ari, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
The REC arrived at the collation centre to declare Binani the winner of the election.
However, this was done in the absence of Mele Lamido, the state’s returning officer.
Also, results from 11 of the 21 local government areas in the state were yet to be announced at the time of the declaration.
No Winner Yet
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the declaration by the REC.
The electoral umpire declares the REC’s declaration of Binani void.
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Furthermore, the commission has invited Mr Ari to its headquarters in Abuja.
INEC also confirms that the process has not been concluded before the declaration.
“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer,” INEC says.
The commission adds that “It is null, void, and of no effect”.
“Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.”
March 18 Election
On March 18, 2023, the gubernatorial election in Adamawa State was held.
Two days later on March 20, reports started circulating that APC’s Binani had won the election.
Many started congratulating Binani online and were sharing pictures of her captioned as ‘Madam Governor’.
However, at that time the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Fintiri, was still in the lead based on results announced.
Mr Fintiri won in 13 LGAs while Binani won in seven of the 20 declared.
Eventually, INEC had to schedule a supplementary election in the state for April 15.
So far, in the results from the April 15 supplementary election, Fintiri is in a clear lead in 7 LGAs while Binani leads in 3 of the 10 announced.
