JUST-IN: Supreme Court Upholds Fintiri’s Election Victory

• Justice Okoro further held that it is the returning officer who must announce results, as this is to avoid chaos and anarchy.
• He stated that the Electoral Act gives the responsibility of who to declare results, and this power exclusively rests on the returning officer.

The election of Ahmadu Fintiri as the legally elected governor of Adamawa State has been confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Remember that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Fintiri was proclaimed the victor of the March 11 governor’s race by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) contested his victory in court.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by John Okoro, on Wednesday, dismissed the petition filed by Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

While dismissing her appeal for lacking in merit, the five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro held that the act of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Ari, was an act of irresponsibility and criminality.

Justice Okoro further held that it is the returning officer who must announce results, as this is to avoid chaos and anarchy.

He stated that the Electoral Act gives the responsibility of who to declare results, and this power exclusively rests on the returning officer.