PDP protests in Adamawa, demands official declaration of governorship election results

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, on Monday, mobilised its supporters to the streets of Yola to protest the controversies over the inconclusive governorship election and the partisanship  of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state.   The protesters condemned the illegal announcement of uncollated results by the REC and declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as winner of the governorship election in Adamawa. They   commended the Independent National Electoral Commission National Headquarters for   prompt declaration of the  REC’s action null and void.

The PDP supporters demanded the announcement of the results of the Saturday supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State and the winner be declared.

The protesting PDP  supporters who comprise youths, men and women moved to the State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yola, expressing their displeasure over the partisanship of the REC, and cautioning the commission against undermining the mandate of the people.

They protested lack of transparency perceived in the Adamawa State governorship election, which they said ought to be in the first election on March 18.  They protested that the supplementary election was a charade to manipulate the process, arguing that results collated so far indicated that it is obvious Governor Umaru Fintiri won the election.

The Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in Adamawa State had on Sunday disrupted the supplemetary election process, when he  announced results that were not officially collated and declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Ahmed, winner of the election.

The INEC Headquarters in Abuja, denounced the action of the Adamawa REC, chiding him for usurping the power of the Returning Officer. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, accordingly, declared the  REC’s    announcement null and void, while the process was suspended.