The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State Prof Hudu Yunus Ari has declared Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, as winner of the Adamawa Governorship election.
Dateline Nigeria reports that Ari made the declaration with collation yet to be concluded.
But tthe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since dismissed the declaration by the REC as null and void, saying collation was still ongoing at the time of his announcement.
Prof Hudu Yunus Ari had announced the result before the scheduled time for the resumption of collation.
But reacting to the development, INEC’s National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education, Festus Okoye, dismissed the declaration of Binani by the REC.
It said in a statement that “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.
“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.
“The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.
Detailed statement to follow shortly.”
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