A civil society group, Concerned Citizens for Peace and Development, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow the will of Adamawa people to prevail and not to compromise the results of the governorship election in the state.
Addressing journalists on Sunday in Abuja, the national coordinator of the group, Comrade Dominic Ogakwu, said any attempts to manipulate the process in favour of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) would be resisted.
Ogakwu faulted the electoral body for declaring the election inconclusive after the Returning Officer, Professor Mohammed Mele, had announced results from 21 local government areas.
He warned the INEC to tread with caution and not to throw the state into crisis, adding that Binani was never announced the winner of the Adamawa governorship election except by devious manipulations, she cannot win going by the 37, 016 collected PVCs in the area under contestation.
According to him, “the 2023 governorship election of Adamawa state has become a world centre of attraction. It is now a debacle of power tussle between the incumbent Governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Senator Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru (Binani), Senator Representing Adamawa Central whose gross desire is to become the next governor of the state.
“Fintiri is facing a battle royale with the fierce desperation of Binani who seems to be powerfully influencing the conduct and the process of the governorship election. Binani began to fly a kite using unsubmitted Fofure Local Government results where over thirty one thousand votes was recorded in her favor.
“The imaginary votes threw confusion in the electoral process as people from all walks of life began to congratulate Binani as the first female governor in the history of Nigeria, including the international community even without final collation and announcement by the INEC.
“What we are saying here today is that only fairness and justice are what will save Adamawa state from the claws of crisis. Because the simple fact is that Binani didn’t win the election, and the INEC must ensure that attempts to compromise it and change the canceled units to favor Binani will be resisted by the people.
“We are not in doubt that about her desperation as Binani in her Fulfulde native language used the word “Wujja Wujja,” severally, meaning she will battle the seat of power even if it means her stealing it. This portends grave danger especially to democracy and good governance.”
While faulting the role played by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Paulen Tallen, Ogakwu said the minister ought to have been neutral and played the role of a mother to everyone.
He condemned the feminine support being giving to Binani, noting that winner must emerge through the popular majority but not on gender sentiments.
