Confusion as INEC disowns official for declaring Binani winner of Adamawa governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yinusa, for declaring All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani, as the winner of the supplementary governorship election.

Recall that earlier, Prof Hudu Yunus, who is not the chief returning officer as legally required declared Binani as the winner midway into the collation.

Results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas had been declared while the exercise was adjourned till 11am.

Results from 10 LGA so far declared show that Governor Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has won seven while Binadi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has won three.

However, INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, in a statement said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the purported declaration of Binani as winner by the REC, even when the process had not been concluded.

He added that the action of the REC was an usurpation of the powers s of the state returning officer and was therefore null, void and of no effect.

“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,” the statement added.

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