The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the ongoing collation of governorship results.
According to Barr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner, Information &Voter Education, the Resident National Commissioner and Returning Officer are to report to Abuja.
The statement halting the collation reads: “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.”
Adamawa REC’s action has thrown the state in complete confusion as tension has heightened.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Hudu Yunusa had made a premature declaration of winner of the supplementary governorship election that took place on Saturday.
Hudu Yunusa named the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani as winner of the election about 9.30 am Sunday.
This was when results from the supplementary election from 10 local government areas were still being expected after results from the first 10 had been collated in the early hours of Sunday.
The authority of the REC to declare results was questioned as he is not the chief collation officer.
This would be the second time in the governorship election in the state when Hudu Yunusa would be involved in a controversy.
He had during the main election of March 18 been linked to a leaked audio in which he allegedly instructed one of his surbordinates to manipulate results for Binani, following which the Peoples Democratic Party severally demanded his removal from office.
Apparently for reason of the controversy that his name has attracted, he was not fully involved in the collation centre activities Saturday evening through Sunday morning when results were collated from the 10 LGAs that first arrived.
As in the main election, PDP’s Ahmadu Fintiri is in the lead in results of the supplementry election declared so far.
Collation officers were still being expected at the INEC State Collation Centre in Yola as this report was being concluded just before noon Sunday.
The collation officer had earlier fixed 11 am to resume collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs.
