The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC (INEC) has debunked the purported declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as winner of the Adamawa gov’ship poll.
The Informant247 earlier reported that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa, Prof Hudu Yunus Ari, declared Binani as winner midway into the collation.
It was gathered that the results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas had been declared while the exercise was adjourned till 11am.
However, Ari made pronouncement an hour before the scheduled time.
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading before the pronouncement was made.
In a statement released by Barr. Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education, said the declaration is nulled and void, adding that the election process has not been concluded before the declaration by the REC.
The statement reads: “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,” he added.