.
The attention of the Commission INEC 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.
*_Report from Adamawa stated that “As at 1am Sunday, INEC had adjourned till 11am to enable the arrival of results from 10 local government areas. However, at about 8am on Sunday, three hours before the scheduled resumption of collation, the REC, accompanied by security operatives, arrived the collation centre and invited journalists around to join him for an address.
Despite not being the state returning officer, constitutionally mandated to declare outcome of governorship election, he was said to have brought out a paper from his pocket and declared the APC candidate, Binani, winner of the election”_*
PRESS RELEASE
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. - The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.
Detailed statement to follow shortly.
Barr. Festus Okoye
National Commissioner,
Information & Voter Education
