Keyamo Reacts To INEC Decision on Adamawa Guber

Patrick OdeyApril 16, 2023

2 minutes read

Festus Keyamo, SAN, the spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend the collation of results in the Adamawa State Governorship election.

Recall that the Adamawa governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aisha Binani was controversially declared the winner on Sunday morning by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Hudu Yunusa.

Yunusa had walked into the collation centre after the supplementary election was suspended on Saturday and to be resumed on Sunday at 11 am and announced Binani as the winner of the election.

But in a swift reaction, INEC rejected the results declared by the REC.

In a statement to journalists, INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said: “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.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of State of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, in reaction to the development said “Just woke up in the US to this wonderful news. I am screaming my head off here! This is such a glass-shattering watershed for the women of Nigeria! Huge congratulations to my sister, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani).

“At a point in the struggle, we were speaking like a dozen times a day on phone! Special thanks to all those who worked so hard for this; special thanks to the good people of Adamawa State for smashing this hoodoo of gender bias; special thanks to the APC for making this possible; special thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for providing such sterling leadership; special thanks to Nigerians for your support and prayers! Now, for the women of Nigeria, please go ye forth and conquer!”

Moments after INEC denied declaring Binani winner of the Adamawa State gubernatorial election, Keyamo also said the ruling party awaits further instructions from the electoral body.

The Minister in a post on his Twitter account wrote, “Following the earlier reports by the media of Binani’s declaration, I have just been informed of the position of INEC nullifying (for now) the declaration and suspending the collation process. We will therefore await further action by INEC.”