*INEC suspends collation of poll results, summons REC to Abuja over ‘hasty’ declaring of Binani as winner
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended further collation of the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election results.
Prior to the suspension, however, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had won seven local government areas of the State, while his major challenger, Aishatu Ahmed (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was top in three LGAs.
Reports, however, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner had declared the APC candidate winner of the election.
But INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye, slammed the action of the Adamawa REC, saying it usurps the power of the Returning Officer.
“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,” Okoye said in a statement.
He further said: “The action of the Resident Electoral Commission 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 Commission, thereafter, summoned the REC, Returning Officer and all the officers involved, to its Headquarters in Abuja.
