…Dismisses Binani’s appeal
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 put a seal of confirmation on the election of Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.
The decision of the apex court has therefore foreclosed any further plan by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aishati Ahmed Dahiru popularly known as Binani from occupying the Adamawa Governorship seat following the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The Supreme Court while affirming the election of Governor Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Adamawa Governor, dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Binani and the APC
In the judgment, a five-member panel of the court led by Justice John Okoro, unanimously held that the declaration of Dahiru as winner of the election by the Adamawa State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was unlawful and a nullity.
The apex court specifically held that it was the Returning Officer of an election that is empowered by the Electoral Act to announce the results of any election, stressing that any other person, who assumes that role, acts illegally.
The Supreme Court also held that the appellants namely, Senator Binani and the APC failed to provide credible evidence to prove their claim of non-compliance with the relevant laws that she won the election with majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
