President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the police to thoroughly investigate the shenanigans that signposted the recently concluded governorship election in Adamawa State.
While the state Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele called for a recess in the result announcement process, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari sneaked into the collation centre and announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (well known as Binani) as the winner of the governorship election. He provided no justification.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission stepped in immediately and disowned the announcement. The process was eventually concluded even as Binani had made an acceptance speech. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, who had been in the lead, was announced winner of the election by Mele.
“In every democratic contest there has to be one winner. I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances”, Tinubu said in his statement on Wednesday, in which he also congratulated the re-elected governor and the governor-elect of Kebbi State, Dr Idris Nasiru on their recent victories at the polls.
Tinubu also rejoiced with elected members of the Senate, the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly who succeeded in the last round of elections recently concluded.
The President-elect further said: “These victorious men and women have earned the trust of their people and I call on them to rededicate themselves to the service of their respective constituents.
“The supplementary polls have now brought the 2023 elections to a final, fitting conclusion. I observed, with satisfaction, the largely peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the supplementary election on Saturday. It was a further testimony that our citizens have accepted democratic norms and have unalloyed faith in the electoral process.
“With the conclusion of the 2023 elections, I now welcome all of us who have been elected to brace up to serve our people with diligence and dedication and to join hands with me as your President-elect in the pursuit of our agenda to renew the hopes of our people in a better, stronger, more secure, economically vibrant and prosperous Nigeria”.
