The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Yola would on Saturday, October 28, hear a case instituted against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the last governorship election in Adamawa State.
The case, instituted by a prominent governorship candidate, Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru popularly known as Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is challenging INEC’s rejection of the declaration of Binani as the winner of that election.
A suspended state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Hudu Ari-Yunusa, had on April 16, 2023, declared Binani the winner of the election conducted the day before.
Hudu had announced Binani winner of the election when results for collation were still being awaited from 10 LGAs.
In reaction to the premature declaration, INEC immediately nullified the declaration and suspended Hudu, and then went ahead to conclude the collation and announce incumbent Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
On her part, Binani, on May 5, filed a complaint at the governorship election petition tribunal, rejecting INEC’s actions, including its declaration of Fintiri as the winner of the said election.
Continuing the process of the petition on Tuesday, the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal released a notice announcing the scheduling of the much-awaited hearing for October 28.
The Notice of Hearing specified that the petition between Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru & 1 other versus INEC & 2 others will be heard on October 28 “and on such other days as the tribunal may determine.”
Against the increasing activities of incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri who has done close to five months in his new term and a popular challenger Binani whose numerous supporters hope for success, the announcement of the hearing date of this famous petition has set Adamawa in a pensive mood.