After a series of drama and controversies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has finally declared the candidate of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP), Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, as the winner of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Mele Lamido, announced that Fintiri polled a total of 430,861 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the APC, who was earlier declared illegally as winner, polling 396,788 votes.
The declaration was made after the final collation of results today, April 18 in Yola, the State capital.
INEC had suspended collation of results yesterday, April 17 as a result of what was seen as illegal declaration of Senator Aishatu Binani as the winner by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The INEC Commissioner for Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye, promptly described the announcement by REC as usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer for the election and therefore, declared it illegal, null and void.
The Governorship election earlier held on March 18, 2023 in the state was declared inconclusive by the returning officer.
Source: Promptnews.
