Nigerian Forum for Democracy (NFD) has has appaluded the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, for taking the bold step to nullify the pronouncement of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani, winner of the supplementary governorship election held in Adamawa State on Saturday.
The interest group whose main objective is the advancement of democracy and good governance in Nigeria also commended INEC for peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election.
The forum said it was aware of enormous challenges faced by the commission following the amended Electoral Act, 2022, which was meant to facilitate the electoral processes, despite attempts to arm twist it by some anti-democratic elements.
In a statement by its national coodinator, Bala Garba James; national secretary, James Adebayo Olu, and PRO, Chief Edem Moses, NFD stated: “Of note is the development in Adamawa State governorship election which was marred with controversies, but which the electoral umpire insisted on doing the right thing no matter which ox is gored.
“That INEC swiftly reacted and declared the announcement of Senator Aishatu Binani winner after the rerun election on Saturday April 15, 2023 in Adamawa State a nullity is a testament of a responsible electoral umpire, which Prof. Mahmood Yakubu deserves commendation.”
The forum recalled that the INEC national chairman had read a riot act in his pre-election briefing of all the resident electoral cmmissioners after they had gone through orientation and given the guidelines of how elections should be conducted across States.
This, it said, shows the frantic effort by Prof Yakubu to conduct free and fair elections, irrespective of pitfalls arising from unforeseen circumstances.
The group added that INEC’s fair disposition led to the emergence of a sizeable number of opposition lawmakers, with the PDP having 35 seats, Labour Party, 8, while the NNPP and others got one Senator-elect each.
“The opposition political parties also did well in the lower legislative chamber as well as State Houses of assembly across States,” it added.
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