The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for immediate declaration of the results of Adamawa State governorship election.
The party accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, of attempt to install illegal government in the state “contrary to the provision of section 1 sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
PDP acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, described the action of the REC as “reckless, inexcusable and unpardonable assault, on the nation’s democracy, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC guidelines and the will of the people of Adamawa State.”
Ambassador Damagum described the conduct of the REC as reprehensible, and said he attempted to subvert the will of the people of Adamawa State by illegally declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Aishatu Ahmad, popularly known as Binani, as winner of the election, while collation of results was still on-going.
He asserted that the subversive conduct of Adamawa REC Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari must not go unpunished.
“We restate our demand that INEC should without further delay hand over Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to the police for investigation and prosecution,” he said.
The acting National Chairman also called on the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, to as a matter of urgency, “remove, investigate and sanction the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police for providing cover and enabling the perpetration of this grievous criminal act against our democracy.”
He called on the commission to save Adamawa State from serious crisis by directing the returning officer Prof. Mohammed Mele, “to immediately conclude collation, declare the final results and return the rightful winner, Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected governor of Adamawa State.”
According to him, the continued delay by INEC in declaring the results of the election, is heightening tension in the state, which he added, “is capable of triggering a serious breakdown of law and order in the State.”
Damagum states that the results of the election obtained from the polling units, showed that Governor Fintiri was in clear lead, but regretted that INEC has continued to delay the conclusion of official collation, announcement and declaration of the rightful winner of the election.
