The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected governor of Adamawa State.
The court, therefore, dismissed the case brought by his closest challenger, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the March 2023 polls, Binani, claiming widespread irregularities and non-compliance with the electoral act, petitioned the Adamawa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal to nullify Fintiri’s victory. However, the Tribunal in October upheld Fintiri’s election, prompting Binani to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The Appeal Court said the action of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in announcing Binani as the winner was illegal and an action outside of that prescribed by law as only the Returning Officer has such power.
Recall that a day before Fintiri’s declaration as governor by INEC, while collation was underway, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state then, Hudu Ari, prematurely declared Binani as the winner, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act.
However, in a swift response to Binani’s declaration, INEC said the pronouncement is of no effect.
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Consequently, it suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election in Adamawa and invited the REC, Returning Officer, and all officials involved to report to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The REC was thereafter suspended.
