Binani
The Gubernatorial Candidate of APC in Adamawa Governorship Election, Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, has urged the Adamawa Election Petition Tribunal to confirmed her declaration as winner of the election.
Binani and APC have dragged INEC, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri and PDP before the tribunal as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively in a 382 page petition.
Binani who was initially declared winner by Adamawa suspended REC, (Hudu Ari) in the petition cited Section 149 of the Electoral Act 2022 to press her demand to be declared Governor-elect.
The Act stated that: “Any defect or error arising from any actions taken by an official of the Commission in relation to any notice, form or document made or given or other things done by the official in pursuance of the provisions of the constitution or of the Electoral Act or any rules made there under remains valid unless otherwise challenged and declared invalid by a competent court of law or tribunal.”
Binani in her petition pointed out that the purported nullification of her declaration as winner by INEC National Commissioner for Voters Education and Publicity (Mr Festus) who is not a court or tribunal should be declared null and void and of no effect.
Binani who cited many wards affected by irregularities such as over voting in favour of Fintiri during the election across the state, requested that “in the alternative and only in the alternative”, the tribunal should order a fresh election in Adamawa.
Also in his petition to the tribunal, the gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Umar Ardo, urged the tribunal to nullify the election for non compliance with Electoral Act and INEC regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections.
Ardo requested a declaration by the tribunal that the governorship election conducted by INEC on March 18 and the supplementary election on April 15 in Adamawa was invalid being marred by corrupt practices (threat, violence and alleged bribery).
Ardo also requested the tribunal to nullify the election and the initial declarations of Binani as winner by REC Ari and Fintiri as winner by the Returning Officer respectively.
The SDP candidate also requested for an Order of the tribunal directing INEC to conduct fresh election in Adamawa.
Ardo’s 25 page petition included videos of REC Hudu Ari declaring Binani as Governor-elect on May 16 and that of molestation of INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru as well as that of the assault on a DSS official.
