Heavy security at Adamawa Collation Centre, as INEC reconvenes

There is heavy security presence at the Adamawa State collation centre in Yola, the capital as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have reconvene to resume collation from where they stopped on Sunday

The INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Adamu Gujungu, who has been ordered to take the place of the erring Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa Ari has taken his place at the collation centre.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye is expected at the collation centre.

INEC had on Sunday suspended collation for the Saturday supplementary governorship election in Adamawa after Ari announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prematurely and illegaly

Ari had since been summoned to Abuja by the electoral umpire who also declared his announcement null and void describing the attempt as an usurpation of the powers of the collation and returning officer.

The electoral umpire also said it will write the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to probe and prosecute Ari.

Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from 10 LGAs had been announced — and fintiri was ahead of Binani.

The collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs was expected to commence by 11am on Sunday, and Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.

According to the electoral act, Lamido is the rightful official empowered to declare the winner of the election.