A Pro- PDP group, LEADERSHIP LEAGUE has carpeted the poor performance of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the inconclusive Adamawa governorship supplementary election.
In a statement released on Monday, the group called for the immediate prosecution of INEC Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the arrest of APC Adamawa governorship candidate, Aishatu ‘Binani’ Ahmed, for declaring herself governor-elect.
Below is the full Press Release
Monday, April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE BY PDP LEADERSHIP LEAGUE
LEADERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED BY FELONY
The 2023 electoral process has been widely regarded as one of the worst in recent history. The governorship election which should have held on March 11th 2023 was suddenly pushed forward one week to March 18th 2023 to allow for INEC’S BVAS consoles to be reconfigured.
Yet on April 15th 2023 we witnessed supplementary elections in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Enugu, Adamawa just to name a few. Nearly a month after elections were conducted.
Despite the rather inexplicable delays we still witnessed a charade playing out in Adamawa state. Where for the 2nd time in a month Aisha Binani of the APC was being celebrated across the globe as the 1st elected female governor in Nigeria.
In fact INEC took their illegality and impunity one step further when the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa-Ari hijacked the collation Centre with a few security men in the absence of the state returning officer and announced Aisha Binani of the APC as duly elected governor of Adamawa state.
We strongly condemn this despicable and act of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State.
It is a serious indictment on the Security officials who accompanied the REC to attempt to ‘murder’ democracy and make a mockery of our electoral laws.
The results from the collated 10 LGAs showed clearly that the PDP was in a clear unassailable lead but more importantly the results had not yet been completely collated and the officials responsible for announcing the results were not present at the collation Centre.
We were pleased to see a response from INEC disownimg and denouncing the announcement. But believe that in the interest of peace and justice this matter should now be laid to rest by announcing the legitimate winner of the election.
LEADERSHIP LEAGUE will continue to monitor developments from the supplementary elections to ensure that the will of the people of Adamawa state is not truncated.
We, therefore call on all the media houses, local and international observers to be fearless and bold enough to give unbiased reportage as they continue their jobs in ensuring that we have a Nigeria that is governed by globally acceptable democratic tenets that are fundamental to Nigeria’s political development .
INEC as matter of urgency MUST initiate the process of prosecuting REC Hudu Ari and his co-conspirators who went beyond their official capacity as provided by the law to announce this fraudulent victory.
We also call for the arrest of APC candidate Binani who knew the announcement was done outside the premise of our electoral law but still went ahead to accept publicly and declare herself governor elect.
Leadership is not meant to stolen but earned.
Signed
May Ubeku
Ose Anenih
Sola Kuti
John Shuaibu
Ayokunle AdekunleB
Bashorun Abimbola Koju
