The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has declared as null and void, the purported declaration of the All Progressives Congress APC Governorship Candidate in Adamawa state, Aisha Dahiru Binani by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner REC as duly elected. He was said to have stormed the polling unit, claiming to be a security agent.
He allegedly attempted to snatch a gun from a soldier at the polling unit when he was shot.
“He and his group rushed to the polling unit trying to snatch the ballot box as INEC officials were moving the ballot box to the collation centre.
“Efforts to stop him by people at the polling unit failed and as he struggled to collect the gun from a soldier he was shot by another soldier,†an eyewitness said. According to the commission, the REC has no such powers as only the Returning Officer for the election is constitutionally mandated to make returns.
Besides, the commission said the election had not been concluded when the said the illegal declaration was made. Consequently, INEC has summoned the REC and all other officials involved in the incident to its headquarters in Abuja.The National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education at the commission, Mr Festus Okoye confirmed the development on Sunday afternoon and promised to provide further details on the matter.
Okoye said; “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of a winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC even when the process has 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 the 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 immediatelyâ€.