Controversy as INEC declares two governors-elect in Adamawa, legal battles to commence

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

The drama in Adamawa State governorship election has taken another different dimension as Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri winner of the election in a second declaration.

This is coming two days after Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner, Yunusa Ari declared Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani winner of the last Saturday supplementary election on Sunday, April 16.

Following the irregularities that marred the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa, INEC declared the election inconclusive, which a supplementary election was scheduled on Saturday, April 15.

Trouble started when the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aisha Binani was declared winner by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Yunusa Ari without the presence of the Returning Officer.

However, the electorial umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, described the action as null and void.

On Monday, the APC governorship candidate, Binani proceed to high court to review the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission of voiding her declaration as the winner.

Senator Aisha Binani Dahiru, filed a motion exparte before the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that INEC had no power to void her declaration.

Binani was seeking an order to prevent INEC and its agents from taking any further steps towards making another declaration of the Saturday’s supplementary election in the state, pending the determination of her suit filed before the court.

After Binani filed a case on Monday, April 17, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, April 18, declined her request to hear an ex parte motion filed and queried her jurisdiction.

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo then ordered her lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff to address the court whether it possessed the jurisdiction to hear the motion relating to the happenings in Adamawa State.

After a brief address by Binani’s lawyer, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case till April 26.

While the controversies of the Binani’s declaration continued, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC commenced further collation and eventually declared Peoples Democratic, Party governorship candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri as winner of the election. This is making two governors declared by the same electoral body in Adamawa State as of now.

According to INEC second declaration, Ahmadu Fintiri of People Democratic Party (PDP) scored 430,821, while Aisha Binani of All Progressives Congress, scored 396,788 in the just concluded governorship election in the state.

Recall, Aisha Binani was declared winner on Sunday, April 16 by INEC and the same electoral umpire declared Ahmadu Fintiri, the incumbent governor winner Tuesday, April 18.