The Supreme Court has deferred judgment in the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Aisha Dahiru, known as Binani, against Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
Binani’s petition contesting Fintiri’s victory in the previous gubernatorial election was dismissed by both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
The five-member panel, led by John Okoro, adjourned the case for judgment following arguments from the involved parties, primarily focused on the legality of the declaration by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari.
Months ago, the Court of Appeal upheld Fintiri’s victory, dismissing Binani’s challenge and ordering her to pay N500,000 in costs to Fintiri and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This ruling mirrored the tribunal’s decision, which rejected Binani’s petition due to a lack of evidence supporting allegations of over-voting.
Before the legal battle, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Fintiri the winner of the contentious gubernatorial poll, despite Ari’s premature declaration of Binani as the winner during collation, which violated electoral regulations.
Ari’s premature announcement led to his arrest by the police, and he currently faces charges in court.
The crux of Binani’s argument lies in the legality of Ari’s declaration, contending that it was not in accordance with the electoral laws.
Binani’s legal representative, Akin Olujimi, emphasized the need for clarity regarding the controversial declaration by Ari.
The legal dispute stems from the dramatic gubernatorial poll, where Fintiri emerged victorious with 9,337 votes, surpassing Binani’s 6,513 votes.
Despite Ari’s premature announcement, INEC nullified it, suspended the collation of results, and summoned Ari and other officials to Abuja for investigation.
As the legal battle continues, the fate of the gubernatorial seat in Adamawa remains uncertain, awaiting the Supreme Court’s final judgment on Binani’s appeal.
Ada Peter
