- By Halimah Olamide
“The CDD strongly condemns the recent announcement, by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State, of a winner in yesterday’s governorship election,”
The Centre for Democracy and Development, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission not to waste time sanctioning its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Yunusa Ari Hudu, for the controversial declaration of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Aisha Binani as the winner of the exercise.
The CDD, while expressing regrets over the development in Adamawa State aftermath of the rerun election, said it is critical that laid down procedures are followed in all affairs.
“The CDD strongly condemns the recent announcement, by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State, of a winner in yesterday’s governorship election,” the Centre wrote on Sunday.
Convinced that some officials of the INEC were instrumental to the alleged shenanigans that happened in Adamawa, the Centre said, “We call on INEC to immediately exercise its powers by continuing the collation process that was scheduled to resume today, sanction all erring officials who carried out this illegal announcement and ensure that results are publicly available to all citizens.
“It is important that laid down processes are adhered to avoid a breakdown of law and order in a heightened political environment. CDD will release a statement on the conduct of the elections later today.”
NPO Reported earlier that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Mr. Hudu Yunusa just made the declaration following the conclusion of the supplementary election held in the state on Saturday.
As Yunusa made his declaration, there were shouts of protests against the decision as agents of the Peoples Democratic Party and incumbent Ahmadu Fintiri demanded to know how Binani could be declared.
Meanwhile it took less than one hour for the commission to overrule its commissioner in the state, declaring his action as illegal.
NPO Reported also the INEC in a statement by Festus Okoye, had stated, “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 INEC stated through a statement by Festus Okoye, its National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education.
The commission went further, “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.”