The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Aisha Ahmed Dahiru, also known as Binani, against the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State.
A five-member panel of justices led by John Inyang Okoro adjourned the matter for judgement on Monday after listening to the arguments of the lawyers of both sides.
Binani is seeking to be declared duly elected governor of the state on the grounds that Fintiri and PDP’s election was marred by widespread irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
The elections tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had dismissed her petition and appeal challenging the March 18 and April 15 supplementary elections.
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Adamawa gov’ship: S/Court reserves judgement in Binani’s appeal
Counsel to Binani, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), contended that the declaration of the result by the then Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Hudu Ari, was lawful.
Specifically, Olujinmi insisted that as a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the REC could not be faulted for making declarations in the election he superintended over.
However, counsel to Governor Fintiri, Damian Dodo (SAN) pleaded with the court to reject the arguments of Binani in its entirety for being baseless and against the clear provisions of the law.
Among others, Dodo submitted that the REC lacked the power to make a declaration on election, adding that the only person vested with power to do so is the Returning Officer.
