There has been jubilation on social media, as users claim the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa, Aishatu ‘Binani’ Dahiru, won the state election.
The results of the Adamawa state election are still being collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, some excited social media users have announced the APC candidate, Aishatu ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as the winner of the election.
https://twitter.com/omojuwa/status/1637511445142274050?s=46&t=p_084fDbI9TyV5pjrpK95g
Posts with the name ‘Madam Governor’ are being shared, praising her for being Nigeria’s first female governor.
INEC Results
As of the time this report is being filed, INEC is yet to announce the final results in the state.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Fintiri, is still in the lead with the results announced.
So far, results from 20 of the state’s 21 local governments have been announced by INEC.
However, Binani is hopeful of securing a large victory in Fufure, the only local government whose results are yet to be formally declared.
From the results announced so far, Mr Fintiri is leading with over 35,000 votes. While he has 401,113 votes, Binani has 365,498 votes.
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Mr. Fintiri won in 13 LGAs while Binani won in seven of the 20 declared so far.
Already, officials of both the PDP and APC are claiming that moves are being made to alter the Fufore result.
“What’s happening in Adamawa to Senator Binani is UNACCEPTABLE.
“Reports are that officials of @inecnigeria are under pressure by Governor Fintiri to change the result of Fufore LGA to reduce her clear lead in the Governorship race.
“This is the 1st woman to come this far! INEC MUST HALT THIS NOW!” APC presidential spokesperson Festus Keyamo wrote in a Tweet.
What’s happening in Adamawa to Sen. Binani is UNACCEPTABLE. Reports are that officials of @inecnigeria are under pressure by Gov. Fintiri to change the result of Fufore LGA to reduce her clear lead in the Gov. race. This is the 1st woman to come this far! INEC MUST HALT THIS NOW!
— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) March 19, 2023
Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba
In March 2006, 64-year-old Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba resigned as a proprietress to take the position of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State.
Later that year, she became governor following the impeachment of Governor Peter Obi for alleged gross misconduct.
According to reports, she initially refused to take the position saying, “the governor is my boss and he remains my boss.”
BBC reports that it took five hours of persuasion by elders and leaders of her party before she changed her mind.
“The peculiarity of the situation has led me to accept the position,” she later said.
Her tenure lasted for only three months before she went back to being the deputy governor.
The former governor, Obi, was re-instated on February 9, 2007, after the Court of Appeal nullified his impeachment.
Although her tenure lasted for only three months, she was still recorded as Nigeria’s first female governor.
Will Binani Make It?
Binani of the APC will need to surpass the current voting gap to be declared the winner of the election in the state.
However, until she is declared by INEC, she is not yet the winner of the Adamawa State election despite social media posts.
Critics will say: “You don’t win an election on social media, by pushing trends”.
Also, if announced, Binani would be Nigeria’s first elected female governor and second female governor after Dame Etiaba.
