By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s electoral management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday suspended the collation of the Adamawa State governorship supplementary election.
Hudu Ari, the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), had declared Senator Aisha Dahiru, aka Binani, as winner of the election under controversial circumstances.
But Festus Okoye, the commission’s spokesman, overruled him and ordered suspension of the collation in the statement.
The commission also invited him to its headquarters in Abuja for further explanation.
The statement read in part, “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 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.”
Binani is on quest to become the first female elected Governor in Nigeria in a race with the incumbent Governor Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
