PDP, Fintiri Wins At The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has upheld the election victory of Ahmadu Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Adamawa.
The court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Aisha Dahiru, known as Binani.
Justice Okoro stated that the declaration of Dahiru as the winner by the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was illegal and void.
He said that only the Returning Officer, as empowered by the Electoral Act, has the authority to announce election results, and any other person doing so acts illegally.
Furthermore, Justice Okoro noted that the appellants (Dahiru and the APC) failed to provide credible evidence demonstrating non-compliance with relevant laws or establishing that Dahiru won the election with the majority of lawful votes.
The final results were announced by the INEC Returning Officer in the state, Mohammed Mele.
Mr Mele, a professor, said the PDP governorship candidate has met the constitutional requirement and thereby returned as governor of the state.
“I, Professor Muhammed Mele, hereby certified that I am the Returning Officer for the Adamawa State Governorship election. The election was contested. That the candidates received the following votes,” he said.
“That Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”