Supreme Court dashes hope for first female governor, affirms Fintiri’s election as Adamawa gov

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as Governor of Adamawa State.

Justice John Okoro who prepared and read the lead judgement on Wednesday dismissed the appeal by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aisha Dahiru.

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.

READ ALSO:Supreme Court reserves judgment in Binani’s suit against Adamawa gov’s election

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

The apex court ruling finally puts an end to the quest by Dahiru, popularly called Binani, to emerge as the first female governor in Nigeria.

Ripples Nigeria recalls that while collation of results of the governorship election were ongoing, Ari had gone ahead to announce Binani as winner, an act for which he was later suspended from office and arrested.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now