Aisha Dahiru Binani

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) has referred to concerned security bodies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators who brutalized one of its countrywide commissioners deployed to Adamawa State for Saturday’s supplementary governorship poll.

INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, disclosed this to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

Recall that Aishatu Dahiru, popularly regarded as Binani was controversially declared winner of the Adamawa gubernatorial election midway into Collation through the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Yunusu Ari.

In a swift response to the declaration, INEC headquarters, in a statement, said the action was once null and void.

Moments after the declaration, some miscreants had been said to have swooped on an INEC commissioner who was once flawed for the REC.

Okoye whilst condemning the attack defined that its staff, a former Vice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University, was brutally beaten.

Okoye careworn that such unfortunate act would no longer stand, calling on security agencies to fish out perpetrators.

He said, “If you see what is trending, two national commissioners were deployed to Adamawa State. One of them was brutalised, one of them was stripped naked. That will not be allowed to stand.

“The security agencies must unmask those who engaged in that particular act. They must be arrested, they must be investigated and they must be prosecuted. A national commissioner cannot be treated as if he or she is a common criminal.

“A former Vice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University, a senior citizen was stripped naked and dragged. This commission will not allow that to stand.”

Okoye also said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Yunusa Ari, has arrived Abuja over an invalid declaration of Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election.

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He said, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa State exercises what we call delegated authority; power delegated to him by the Independent National Electoral Commissioner.

“Acting as collation and returning officer are not part of the powers delegated to him. So, he has no right whatsoever to make a declaration and make a return.”

Okoye also said the collation of results of the supplementary election has been suspended.

There is inevitable tension and controversy followed by the declaration of the Senator Aisha Dahiru, known as Binani as winner of Adamawa gubernatorial election.

The announcement was made by The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the Adamawa State governorship election, Barrister Hudu Yunusa who declared Binani as the winner of the poll.

Yunusa had made the declaration following the supplementary election that was held on Saturday.

Meanwhile, reports has it that the Electoral Act mandates the Returning Officer, not REC to made announcement of the results.

In another swift development, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, voided the declaration of Senator Binani, as the winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State.

In what can be seen as reaction, the electoral body also summoned the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Barrister Hudu Yunusa over the controversial declaration.

The INEC’s statement is contained in a thread made available via its official Twitter handle on Sunday,

The thread reads in part: “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 a 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.”

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