The Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), after dismissing the petition filed by his challenger, Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Binani had alleged various irregularities and violations of the electoral Act in the March 9, 2023 governorship election. She claimed that she was earlier declared the winner by the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa, before the collation of results was completed.
She also accused Fintiri of benefiting from multiple declarations of winner and returns made by different officials. She asked the tribunal to nullify Fintiri’s “purported victory” and declare her as the duly elected governor.
However, the tribunal, in its judgement delivered on Saturday by its chairman, Justice Theodora Uloho, rejected Binani’s petition and affirmed Fintiri’s victory.
Justice Uloho ruled that the suspended REC had no authority to declare a winner, as that was the sole duty of a returning officer. She said the declaration and return of Binani as elected was ultra vires the statutory duties of a REC and therefore null and void.
She also said the suspended REC acted recklessly and irresponsibly. She added that Binani failed to prove her allegations of non-accreditation, improper accreditation, and overvoting.
She struck out several exhibits tendered by Binani and dismissed her petition for lacking merit.
The counsel to Binani, Sani Garba, said he would study the judgement and advise his client accordingly. The counsel to Fintiri, Damian Dodo, commended the judgement and the judges for being fair and impartial in their decision.
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