The Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has reacted to the undemocratic declaration of Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the the winner of the Adamawa state 2023 Governorship Election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari on Sunday, 16 April 2023.
The governor condemned the illegal announcement and promised to thwart the conspiracy to steal the mandate Adamawa people freely voted for. He made this known in a press conference held at the state government house in Yola on Sunday.
The REC on Saturday suspended the collation of results and announcement that the exercise will continue the next day Sunday by 11am. But to the surprise of Adamawa citizens, Hudu was at the collation centre around 9am according to reports and announced the APC candidate, Banani as the winner.
This was a breach of guidelines of announcing election results in Nigeria. The returning Officer ( who is suppose to collate the results) before announcement was not present and other party agents. Meanwhile, results of 10 LGAs are yet to be collated.
Below is the full text of the Press Conference:
Fellow Citizens of Adamawa State
This morning we all woke up to an illegal announcement by merchants of anarchy headed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner – Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, who since the beginning of this election is bent on pushing our collective patience to its limit.
It is on record that we went to the polls for the first round of the election on 18th of March, 2023. Even when it was apparent that I was coasting home to victory, this same gang aided the confusion that rendered the election inconclusive.As civilized citizens who were committed to democratic ethos, we accepted the situation in good faith and prepared for the rerun. Yesterday Saturday, 15th – April, the rerun was held peacefully across the State. The appropriate officers commenced the process of the collation. The first round of the collation went well with 11 LGAs collated, before the process was adjourned to continue today 16th April at 11.00 a.m. Just when we were waiting for the resumption of the collation, the REC this morning took up a task, he is not constitutionally empowered to do by making an illegal announcement of the outcome of the election without result.
This action is no doubt provocative, but in this situation, I appeal for calm as always. I assure you that as your leader, I will ensure NOBODY thwarts your democratic rights.
The independent National electoral Commission has demonstrated its umpire status by first distancing itself from the act of the REC and assured that the right thing will be done. The right thing in this context is the conclusion of the collation at the designated location and the declaration of a winner by the Returning Officer in the person of PROFESSOR MELE KYARI
I must thank you for your resilience and resolve to not only exercise your democratic rights but to also protect it. We are on this until justice is done.Fellow citizens, once again, I call on everyone to remain peaceful and law-abiding trusting that the world is watching the enemies of democracy at the height of their shameless brigandage. Nobody should take the law into their hands. Let’s peacefully await the next directive from INEC believing that they do know that the integrity of the Commission is on test.
Thank you and bless.
