The Supreme Court has confirmed Ahmadu Fintiri as Adamawa state’s duly elected governor.
A five-member apex court panel led by John Okoro, on Wednesday, dismissed the petition filed by Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election.
The Supreme Court ruled that Binani’s appeal lacked merit.
The court ruled that the resident electoral commissioner’s (REC) actions during the election were both irresponsible and criminal.
The Supreme Court ruled that the REC demonstrated obvious incompetence in announcing the results, as only the returning officer has the authority to do so.
On March 20, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adamawa’s governorship election inconclusive.
Mele Lamido, the returning officer, announced that Fintiri received 421,524 votes, while Binani received 390,275.
He stated that the difference between the two leading candidates was less than the total number of potential voters — 37,016 — in 69 polling places where elections were cancelled.
After the election was declared inconclusive, INEC set a supplementary election date of April 15.
Following the supplementary poll, controversy erupted during collation when Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the REC, declared Binani the winner of the poll.
In the absence of the returning officer, Yunusa-Ari announced Binani as the winner.
However, the electoral commission declared the announcement null and void and summoned the REC to its headquarters in Abuja, where results were being collated.
Binani received 398,788 votes, while Fintiri received 430,861 votes, resulting in his election victory.
Following the election, Yunusa-Ari was suspended, arrested, and turned over to police for prosecution.