PDP supporters protest in Adamawa, demand announcement of governorship poll result

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa have staged a demonstration over the gubernatorial election in the state. 

The protesters, who marched through the streets of Yola, capital of Adamawa, on Monday, held placards that read “Adamawa is not for sale” and “INEC the world is watching”, among others.

On Sunday, Hudu Yunusa Ari, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in the state, declared Aisha Binani Dahiru, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election, sparking a controversy.

The declaration of election results is the responsibility of the returning officer, and not the resident electoral commissioner.

At the time the REC announced Binani as winner of the poll, results of the supplementary election from 10 LGAs were yet to be collated.

From the results collated on Saturday, Ahmadu Fintiri, Adamawa governor and candidate of the PDP, was in the lead.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since nullified the declaration and summoned the REC and Mele Lamido, returning officer in the election, to its headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking with reporters during the protest, Felix Kinjamo, deputy director-general of the PDP campaign council in Adamawa, said the electoral commission should conclude the election and announce Fintiri as the winner.

Fintiri’s first term in office expires on May 29.