It was sigh of relief for Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, as the political hurricane that almost consumed his second term bid finally dissipated yesterday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) eventually declared him winner of the Adamawa governorship election after all the intrigues and maneuvers that characterised the electoral process in the state.
The INEC, Returning Officer for the 2023 governorship election in the state, Prof Mohammed Mele, made the declaration, following the conclusion of collation of results for the supplementary election held last Saturday.
Fintiri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 430,861 votes to beat his close rival, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 398,788 votes.
The total number of Registered voters 2,196,566, while the total valid votes was 853819.
According to the returning officer, the total votes cast was 869,106, just as total number of rejected votes was 15287.
INEC administrative secretary, Adamu Gujungu, took over as the resident electoral commissioner, while the collation was supervised byINEC National Commissioner Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye
INEC had on Sunday suspended the collation of results from the supplementary governorship election held in the state on Saturday.
The electoral body declared the result of the poll null and void on grounds that the pronouncement of the candidate of the APC, Binani, as winner of the election by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ari Hudu, when the process had not been concluded was an usurpation of powers of the Returning Officer.
The returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, Mele Lamido, who is empowered by law to declare the winner of the election, was absent when Yunusa-Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.
The commission, in a statement issued by the national commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Barr Festus Okoye, suspended the REC and asked him to stay away from the commission.
Meanwhile, INEC has called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate and prosecute the suspended resident electoral commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Yunusa Ari.
INEC disclosed this in its official Twitter handle @inecnigeria.
The commission also requested the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to draw the attention of the appointing authority to the unwholesome behaviour of the REC for further action.
INEC, in the tweet, said during its meeting yesterday that it discussed matters arising from the Adamawa Governorship election and decided to:
The commission said, “Write to the Inspector-General of Police for the immediate investigation and possible prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
“Request the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to draw the attention of the appointing authority to the unwholesome behaviour of the REC for further action.”
Also, the inspector-general of police (IGP), Usman Baba, has ordered the redeployment of the commissioner of police on election duty in Adamawa State, Mohammed Barde, with immediate effect.
This is even as the IGP also ordered that the commissioner of police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa, should immediately proceed to Adamawa State for election security of the yet-to-be concluded supplementary governorship poll.
This was revealed by the Force public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja.
Adejobi also said the IGP was yet to receive any letter from INEC seeking the probe and prosecution of its embattled Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The FPRO also said the IGP is committed to a free and fair process in order to ensure the peaceful conclusion of the governorship election in Adamawa State.
He said, “The IGP has given directive that the commissioner of police on election security in Adamawa State, CP Barde should pull out of Adamawa State and the commissioner of police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa to proceed to Adamawa immediately, to go and supervise election and provide necessary information and ensure that the process is a success.”
It’s Victory For Adamawa People – Fintiri
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said yesterday that his victory at the just concluded governorship elections was proof of what people of Adamawa State want.
Fintiri, during his acceptance speech, thanked people of the state for voting again, saying his success at the polls is for the people of the state
He promised more dividends of democracy to the people of the state
He stated: “By the special grace of God, moving forward, whoever desires to govern us, must seek the mandate to do so from us and here in Adamawa State. The show of love isn’t only overwhelming but loaded with expectations.
“I must confess, I am humbled the more. I wouldn’t take this for granted, for I know just what you want. What you want is not anything less than what we have always offered; which is patriotic service. I pledge to serve you all at all times.
“I appreciate you for participating and do assure you to expect equal treatment and service that does not discriminate.
The governor congratulated his co-contenders and the leadership of their respective parties for a hard-fought contest.
Fintiri commended INEC for technological innovation introduced in the conduct of the election and the untiring commitment of the management and staff of the commission for adding tremendous value to the credibility of the election.
Atiku, PDP, Governors Congratulate Fintiri
Meanheile, former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday congratulated Governor Fintiri on his victory at the Adamawa State governorship election.
Atiku, who hails from the state, urged Nigerians to resist anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine their electoral mandate.
In a series of tweets, Atiku said that the outcome of the election should embolden Nigerians to stand firm in the face of such forces.
He thanked the people of Adamawa and men and women of goodwill for resisting coupists and enemies of democracy from having their way.
Atiku also emphasised the need for unity in accomplishing the task of reclaiming the remaining major mandate for the good of the country and its people.
He said, “It is not yet uhuru as we still have one more major mandate to reclaim, and together as ONE, we shall accomplish the task for the good of our country and its people. -AA.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the victory of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the Adamawa State Governorship election as a momentous triumph for democracy and the Will of the people of Adamawa State over tyranny and desperate manipulative forces which sought to take over control of the State illegally.
The party said the spontaneous jubilation of citizens in Adamawa State and across the nation at the official declaration of Governor Fintiri as the rightful winner of the election irrespective of the nefarious schemes by the rejected All Progressives Congress (APC) is a confirmation that the PDP and its candidate are indeed the choice of the people.
The national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in a statement said Governor Fintiri’s overwhelming victory is a validation that the Will of the people cannot be subdued no matter the plot by a tyrannic, domineering and power-grabbing few who, with over-bloated ambition, desperately sought to subvert our democracy, scuttle the electoral process, compromise the judiciary, subjugate the people and impose an unconstitutional regime in the polity.
“The PDP salutes the courage, resilience and determination of the people of Adamawa State in resisting the defeated APC and compromised INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari in their bid to destabilize the State.
“Our party also lauds the Adamawa State Returning Officer, Mohammed Mele for his courage in standing on the side of justice, due process and democracy in the discharge of his duty.
I Didn’t Give Out N2bn For Declaration Of Results – Binani
Meanwhile, the APC candidate in the governorship election, Aisha Dahiru-Ahmed Binani, yesterday described the allegation that she gave out the sum of N2 billion to procure a favourable declaration as Governor-Elect to some unnamed INEC staff as bizarre, unfounded wild allegations.
She stressed that she never did and would never do such.
LEADERSHIP reports that the allegation was made when the officer was being tortured at gunpoint.
Binani, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, reiterated that she is a democrat and lauded her supporters for their unflinching loyalty.
She noted that she has always been a committed democrat and will never do anything to subvert democratic process.
She said, “I have always been a committed democrat and will never do anything to subvert democratic process.
“I am not a do-or-die politician. In the past, I have won elections into the House of Representatives and the Senate in a free and fair manner.”
She said what happened in Adamawa was an unsuccessful attempt to subvert the will of the people.
Binani said the REC was illegally told to stand down by two INEC national commissioners from Abuja who were supposed to be in Adamawa in a supervisory capacity.
She said even more curious was the nocturnal visit of some INEC national officers to Adamawa State Government House and bizarre declaration the same day after the visit.
She said the government took over the collation through the backdoor, with the Collation and Returning Officers selected by the Governor of Adamawa.
Binani said the roles of these INEC officers from Abuja and the real mission of the two to the Government House should be of interest to all democrats.
She, however, urged all lovers of democracy to take a deeper interest in our electoral process and democracy not only in Adamawa but in the whole country.
Binani said, “I urge all lovers of democracy to take a deeper interest in our electoral process and democracy not only in Adamawa but in the whole country.
“Meanwhile to all my supporters both within and outside Adamawa, I wish to use this opportunity to thank you for your unflinching support, in the midst of half-truths and opposition smear propaganda.”
