The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a Certificate of Return (CoR) to the newly re-elected governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri. The presentation ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja.
In his address to the media after receiving his certificate, Fintiri acknowledged the magnitude of his victory and the weight of responsibility that comes with it. He declared that the state of Adamawa was the real winner of the election.
The controversy surrounding the election, which started on March 18, 2023, came to an end with Fintiri’s declaration as the winner by the electoral commission on Tuesday. Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, announced Fintiri as the winner after the collation of the supplementary election results.
According to Lamido, Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 430,861 votes, beating Aisha Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 398,788 votes. The total votes cast were 869,106, while the total valid votes were 853,819, with 15,287 votes rejected.
Prior to Fintiri’s declaration, the commission held a meeting in Abuja and resolved to write the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to investigate the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, for possible prosecution. The commission also resolved to write the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, with a view to acquainting President Muhammadu Buhari with the “unwholesome” activities of the REC and possibly reviewing his appointment.
On the same day, the Inspector General of Police redeployed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Barde, who was with the suspended REC when he announced Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed as the winner of the election after breaching procedures.
The successful conclusion of the Adamawa state gubernatorial election is a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy. It is hoped that the incoming governor will use his renewed mandate to continue the development of Adamawa state and improve the lives of its citizens.
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