Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has assured that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will do the right thing over the disputed supplementary governorship election held in Adamawa State last weekend.
He gave the assurance when he paid a solidarity visit to his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, at the Government House, Yola.
Controversy trailed the supplementary governorship election as the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, the governor-elect.
The action of the Adamawa REC was perceived in many quarters as illegal as he was not the Returning Officer for the supplementary election.
More importantly, the process of coalition of the result was still in process as the results of 10 local government areas in the state were yet to be turned in to conclude the exercise.
The action of the Adamawa State REC was visited with violent protest as supporters of Governor Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the governor was coasting home to victory before the declaration.
This was as Senator Binani had also went on air on a television station to give an acceptance speech, having been declared as the winner of the supplementary election.
However, the REC’s action was declared null and void by the INEC national headquarters which recalled Yunusa-Ari and also suspended the collation of the results in the state.
Governor Makinde, during his visit to Fintiri, assured the people of Adamawa State that the national electoral body will do the right thing.
He said the people of Adamawa have spoken with their votes, last Saturday, and that their decision will be respected by the concerned authorities.
He described the action of Adamawa REC, Hudi Yunusa-Ari, as a shame and expressed optimism that the right thing will be done.
He also condemned the Adamawa State REC, stating that he acted beyond his powers by illegally declaring a winner before the electoral process was concluded.
Governor Makinde wrote on his Twitter handle, @seyiamakinde, after his visit to Governor Fintiri on Monday, thus:
“Earlier today, we paid a solidarity visit to my brother, @GovernorAUF, at the Government House in Yola.
“In my remarks to the press, I called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the right thing and ensure that the decision of the people of Adamawa State is upheld.
“I also condemned the actions of the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who acted beyond his powers in illegally declaring a winner before the electoral process was concluded.
“I said that such people should have no place in positions of authority in Nigeria in the near future.”
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended its Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari from office.
This followed the REC’s illegal declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru Binani as the governor-elect in last weekend’s rerun election.
Consequently, the REC has been ordered to stay away from the office of the Commission in Yola, Adamawa State tate.
INEC, in a letter dated 17 April, 2023 and signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, directed its Administrative Secretary in the state to take charge of its affairs.
