INEC Urges Adamawa Residents To Stop Attacks On Its Staff, Insists REC Declaring APC Binani Winner Illegal

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has urged residents in Adamawa State and security operatives to protect the lives of its National Commissioners and other staff being attacked by aggrieved parties after the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa illegally declared All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani winner while collation of results of the governorship election were still ongoing.

It was gathered that the INEC REC illegally took over the power of INEC Returning Officer to make the fake declaration earlier before the time fixed for the resumption of the collation process at the state collation center.

Videos trending on social media showed some INEC senior officers in pool of blood apparently being attacked by Adamawa residents after the fake declaration of the guber election winner around 9 a.m on Sunday morning by Barrister Hudu Yunusa.

NTA in a video posted online showed the APC Candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani giving acceptance speech despite the illegality of the declaration. Aishatu Binani thanked President Muhammad Buhari for making it possible for her to become female governor in the state.

Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education in a statement on Sunday, said the action of the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa is null and void.

The INEC statement reads in quote:

“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 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.

“Meanwhile, the Commission is deeply disturbed by the harassment of our two
National Commissioners deployed to the State to ensure a peaceful and credible
supplementary election.

“We urge the security agencies to provide them with necessary security and ensure that nothing untoward befalls them. The two National Commissioners, the Returning Officers and other staff of the Commission must be allowed to perform their duties without let or hinderance.

“The Commission will not condone any act of lawlessness or brigandage targeted at
our officials or the process”.