Inec disassociates itself from Adamawa State governorship election result saying counting is still ongoing

NIGERIA'S Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has denounced the purported declaration of Senator Aisha Dahiru popularly known as Binani as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election saying the action is null and void.

This morning, Inec's resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa, declared Senator Aisha Dahiru as the winner of the gubernatorial election. This was despite the fact that votes were still being counted as results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas in the state were still being awaited.

Has Senator Dahirtu won, she would have become the first female governor in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. However, Inec has announced that counting is still ongoing and it has suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election.

Besides, only the returning officer can announce election results, so Inec has disassociated itself from the antics of the resident electoral commissioner. It added that the action of the resident electoral commissioner amounts to usurpation of the power and is thus null, void and of no effect.

Inec's national commissioner for information and voter education, Barrister Festus Okoye, said resident electoral commissioner Barrister Hudu Yunusa, has been asked to report to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja with immediate effect. He added that the process of vote counting is still ongoing, so no results can be announced.

Mr Okoye said: “The attention of the commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa governorship election by the resident electoral commissioner even when the process has clearly not been concluded. The action of the resident electoral commissioner 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. Also, the returning officer and all involved are hereby invited to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja immediately."