October 28, (THEWILL) – The Adamawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has upheld the election victory of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri in the March 18 gubernatorial election in the state.
A three-member panel of the tribunal, chaired by Justice Theodora Obi Uloho, in a judgement on Saturday, dismissed the joint petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Aishatu Dahiru Binani, and declared Fintiri duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.
The APC and its candidate had filed a joint petition against the declaration of Governor Fintiri of the PDP as the winner of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election in the State.
Besides, allegations of extensive violations of the electoral law and fraudulent voting practices, the APC and Binani in their petition, prayed the Tribunal to validate the declaration of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, announcing Binani as the winner of the election in the absence of the Returning Officer for the exercise.
Yunusa-Ari had stirred controversy on Sunday, April 16, after he declared Binani the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election with results in only 10 out of the 21 local government areas of the state collated by the commission.
While INEC voided his declaration, President Buhari had directed investigation of his action following his suspension.
While the Adamawa State High Court, has scheduled the arraignment of Yunusa-Ari for November 6, 2023, Binani had urged the Tribunal to deliver its judgement before the suspended INEC REC, is prosecuted over the alleged illegal declaration.
Yunusa-Ari is facing a six-count charge bothering on false declaration of election results, breaching oath of neutrality, disorderly conduct during election, inciting disturbance, and impersonating a public servant.
