The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared as “null, void and of no effect” the announcement of the APC’s Aisha Dahiru aka Binani as winner of the governorship election in Adamawa.
The electoral umpire said this in a statement posted on Twitter on Sunday following the supplementary election held on Saturday.
Prior to intervention from INEC headquarters in Abuja, the resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa Hudu Ari on Sunday morning declared Binani the winner of the election.
However, the statement signed by INEC spokesperson Festus Okoye said, “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. Detailed statement to follow shortly.”
Binani of the APC and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP are the two main contestants in the election. Fintiri was leading before Saturday’s rerun election in 69 polling units.
