Adamawa REC’s action provocative — Buhari should intervene, says Fintiri

Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa, says the decision of Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner of the state, to declare a winner in the governorship election is “illegal and provocative”.

The governor called on President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the matter, saying he should not “shy away from this”.

“We call on him to make a statement, we call on him to take a decision. I believe he will not be party to this,” he said.

Fintiri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke on Sunday during a press conference in Yola, Adamawa state capital.

The REC had earlier declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.

Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the governorship election, is however the INEC official empowered by law to declare a winner.

The electoral body has since suspended the collation of results and summoned the REC and returning officer to the headquarters in Abuja.

‘RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN CALM’

The Adamawa governor called on residents of the state to “peacefully await” the next directive of INEC, adding that the integrity of the electoral commission is “on test”.

He expressed optimism that the electoral umpire would eventually collate and announce the winner of the election, saying that nobody would subvert the democratic rights of the residents.

“The REC, this morning, took up a task, which he is not constitutionally empowered to do by making an illegal announcement of the outcome of the election without results,” he said.

“This action is no doubt provocative, I appeal for calm.”