The drama from the supplementary gubernatorial election held in Adamawa State on Saturday, April 15 is far from ending.
After the coting exercise in the election characterised by low voters turnout, 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) while results from some polling units were still being awaited.
According to INEC, the REC usurped power to declare Binani the winner of the election.
Adamawa Supplementary Election Declaration Cancelled
After that declaration, the INEC in a statement voided the pronouncement.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, who signed the statement on Sunday, noted that the declaration by the REC was null and void as the action of the REC was “usurpation of the power of the returning officer”.
Afterwards, the commission invited Yunusa-Ari to Abuja over his action. He was quizzed over his conduct and now the electoral body is taking a decision.
The statement read: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission has been drawn to the purported declaration of a winner in the Adamawa State Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
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“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”.
Read Full Statement Below:
PRESS RELEASE
Suspension of Collation in the Adamawa Governorship Election pic.twitter.com/0kwFzY4epR— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 16, 2023
INEC Bars Adamawa REC
Going forward, Hudu Ari, a Resident Electoral Commissioner, has been instructed by the Independent National Electoral Commission to refrain from participating in any election-related activity in Adamawa State.
This information was released in a statement on Monday by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the INEC’s secretary.
Ari worked as the REC for Adamawa’s governorship election.
“I hereby convey the Commission’s decision that you (Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State should stay away from the Commission’s office in Adamawa State immediately until further notice.
“The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect,” the statement read.
