Drama As INEC Declares Binani’s Historic March ‘Inconclusive’

There is high drama and heightened tension in Adamawa State after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the governorship election in the state inconclusive and ordered a rerun in 47 wards in the state.

Before the latest turn of events, all eyes were on Adamawa where a female politician, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, who was flying the flag of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, was trying to make history as the first woman to be elected a state governor in Nigeria in the 2023 governorship election held on Saturday.

LEADERSHIP reports that the incumbent Adamamwa State governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, was leading with 421,524 votes, while Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the APC had 390,275 votes in 21 local government areas of the state before the election in Fofure local government area was declared inconclusive by the state returning officer, Professor Mohammed Mele.

Prof Mele, while announcing the election as inconclusive, said the number of those who collected their PVCs in the 47 wards where election did not hold was more than the difference between the two leading political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and  All Progressives Congress.

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Mele, therefore, ordered a rerun in the 47 affected wards across 21 local government areas.

This announcement elicited protest by party agents of the APC at the state Collation Centre in Yola, as they alleged manipulation of the vote to favour the ruling PDP in the state.

They banged tables and chairs in protest against the announced results at the venue, and it took a long time for security agents to control the situation.

The controversial results from Fofure local government, a strong hold for Binani, during the tabulation has been generating tension in the collation centre since Sunday, when the result was delayed.

Yesterday, supporters of the APC barricaded Bekaji area at about by 2am, protesting what they described as an attempt to steal their mandate from Binani.

INEC Suspends Collation Of Abia, Enugu Governorship Elections

Meanwhile, INEC yesterday suspended further collation of the governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the INEC office in Obingwa local government area of Abia State was invaded on Sunday by thugs who held its officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the local government area.

However, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, signed by the national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, the commission said it was reviewing the results for the governorship election from the two outstanding local government areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East in Enugu State.

Okoye said the review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.

The statement reads in part: “The Commission met today, Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday, 18th March 2023.

“Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.”

Consequently, the commission suspended the collation of results in Obingwa local government area of Abia State and the two outstanding local government areas in Enugu State which were yet to be collated.

“We appeal for the understanding and patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected states,” he added.

Atiku Demands Declaration of Adamawa Election

Meanwhile, before the election was declared inconclusive, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had called on INEC to declare Adamawa governorship results with immediate effect.

Addressing newsmen at his residence in Yola yesterday, Atiku said it was evident that PDP had won the governorship polls with a landslide victory and wondered at the delay in declaring the incumbent Governor Fintiri the winner.

He urged Nigerians and the international community to mount pressure on INEC to declare the results unfailingly today.

“The attitude of INEC in this state leaves much to be desired. They try to alter the results from Fofure LGA, but even with that PDP had won the election.

“I personally spoke to INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to release the results as stipulated by law. INEC should announce the results, as expressed by the people of Adamawa. I see no reason why the delay in the announcement of the results,” Atiku added.