Social media is currently rife with confusion, anger and shock following the declaration of Senator Aisha Dahiru better known as Aisha Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa gubernatorial election on Saturday.
Sen Aisha Binani was illegally declared winner by the Adamwa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Barrister Hudu Yunusa, as opposed to the state’s Returning Officer, who was notably absent during the announcement.
To further complicate matters, the Adamawa REC declared Binani winner over the incumbent Governor, PDP’s Ahmadu Fintiri, without results to back his pronouncement.
In response to the illegal action, Nigerians, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) HQ condemned the action as null and void, with INEC describing the REC’s action as “usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer”.
Here are some reactions gathered by The Quest Times;
@inecnigeria 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.
@realkennethokonkwo What is happening in Adamawa today is simply the amplification of the illegality, corruption and criminality perpetrated by Prof Mahmood and his Spokesperson Festus Okoye on Feb 25. What you compromise to get, you compromise to keep. Mahmood and Okoye should be sacked immediately
@ShehuSani Adamawa REC defecate on the rules of Inec and the constitution of our country.
@ruffydfire What happened in Adamawa is abhorrent, the desperation is abominable! It’s Democracy peps!
@seunonigbinde The saddest part of the whole issue is the Commissioner of Police sitting firmly in a treasonous activity.
@DemolaRewaju A breach of the Nigerian Constitution just happened in Adamawa State with the involvement of the Number One cop in the state and the Number One INEC officer in same state and the least consequence of their civilian coup in favour of APC should be their immediate arrest.
@FS_Yusuf_ The Adamawa REC didn’t just wake up to confront the Constitution and the INEC guideline. He followed a precedent that’s been set already. Welcome to a system of anyhowness. When you complain, idiots will tell you that you are not patriotic. Everybody go collect!
@InibeheEffiong I just watched a brief video of the INEC REC in Adamawa in company of the CP announcing Aisha Binani of the APC as winner of the election. He had no document with him and read no figures. He was casual and panicking. This is illegal and fraudulent. He’s not the Returning Officer.
@Mindset_Tweet The Adamawa INEC REC learned his trade from the INEC chairman, Mr. Yakubu.
@SavvyRinu INEC declared winner in Adamawa. Same INEC said there is no winner. Nevertheless, one candidate is already giving an acceptance speech. This is the circus elections have become in Nigeria headed by Yakubu Mahmood, encouraged by the dictatorship of Buhari and APC.
@Sports_Doctor2 INEC has suspended Adamawa Elections and Binani is reading acceptance speech on NTA, God have mercy.
@Morris_Monye APC should actually fear God. Haba mana! I know they don’t have souls but make they fear God even small. This travesty in Adamawa can’t be allowed na.
@chxta Careful what you legitimise. The wrong @inecnigeria official made a declaration BEFORE results were done in Adamawa, a serving minister was already “waking up in the US and ‘thanking God'”, and some were already telling Fintiri to “go to court.” Careful what you legitimise.
@VictorIsrael_ INEC REC initially declared Binani the Governor-Elect of Adamawa without announcing the votes cast. INEC has dropped a statement declaring that results null and void. They just shot themselves in the leg because that’s exactly what Yakubu Mahmood did by declaring Tinubu winner