The Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, held a press conference, at the Party’s national secretariat in Abuja. to address the political situation in Adamawa State.
The event is coming barely 24 hours after the electoral umpire directed its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, to stay away from all activities of the commission and the election in the state.
The INEC REC had on Sunday incited controversy when at about 9 am, he announced the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as the winner of Saturday’s supplementary election, against the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, who has been leading in the election.
However, the commission immediately summoned Ari to Abuja and declared his announcement as an invalid declaration, and a usurpation of the powers of the collation and returning officer.
Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from 10 LGAs had been announced — and the Fintiri was still leading the contest.
The collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs was expected to commence by 11 am on Sunday, and the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, Mele Lamido, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.
Meanwhile, according to the constitution, Lamido was the rightful official empowered to declare the result.
However, PDP, in its quest to address the situation officially, organized a press conference, this afternoon, and the text of the conference is as follows:
“Text of Press Conference by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, His Excellency, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum holding today, Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja on the Conduct of the Adamawa State Governorship Election.
PDP Demands Immediate Declaration of Adamawa State Governorship Election Results
Gentlemen of the press, we have called you up again today to update you on our position on the Governorship election in Adamawa State.
On Sunday, April 16, 2023, our Party addressed the Nation over the reprehensible conduct of the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, who attempted to subvert the Will of the people of Adamawa State by illegally claiming that the defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Aisha Binani, won the election, while collation of results was still on-going.
The action of the Adamawa State REC is a reckless, inexcusable, and unpardonable assault on our Democracy, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines, and the manifest Will of the people of Adamawa State, which they expressed in voting en masse for the PDP.
This action by Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari amounts to a “Civilian Coup” to take control and install an illegal government in Adamawa State contrary to the provision of Section 1 Sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
For clarity, Section 1 Sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides;
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except by the provisions of this Constitution”.
The PDP insists that such subversive conduct of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari must not go unpunished. We restate our demand that INEC should without further delay hand over Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to the police for investigation and prosecution.
The Inspector General of Police should, as a matter of urgency, remove, investigate, and sanction the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police for providing cover and enabling the perpetration of this grievous criminal act against our democracy.
Gentlemen of the press, the PDP, the majority of Nigerians, and indeed the International Community are now worried that despite the results of the election, as obtained from the Polling Units, which show Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri in the clear lead, INEC has continued to delay the conclusion of official collation, announcement and declaration of the rightful winner of the election.
This continuing delay is heightening tension in Adamawa State and is capable of triggering a serious breakdown of Law and Order in the State, which is already overstretched as a result of the many perverse activities of the heavily compromised Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari.
It is therefore imperative and urgent that INEC does the needful and save Adamawa State from the serious crisis by directing the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele, to immediately conclude collation, declare the final results and return the rightful winner, Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.
Thank you for listening and God bless Nigeria.”
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