Ishaku Abbo, a senator from the Adamawa North Senatorial District, has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot declare the collation of results in Adamawa state null and void under the Electoral Act as amended in 2022.
In spite of the fact that results for 10 of the 20 local government areas (LGAs) in the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election showed Governor Ahmadu Fintiri in an early lead, INEC suspended the collation of the poll.
The appointive umpire on Sunday through its Public Official, Data and Elector Schooling, Barr. According to Festus Okoye, “It is null, void, and of no effect,”
However, in an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Senator Abbo maintained that the proclamation of the electoral body was insignificant because it was supported by the electoral act.
The Senator stated, “They cannot suspend collation.”
Because they lack that authority, “INEC cannot nullify an election that has been announced.”
They have no control over the election results. The REC has made public the outcome. Area 65 doesn’t work in separation, there is segment 149.
According to the Electoral Act of 2022, Section 149:
Unless otherwise challenged and declared invalid by a competent court of law or tribunal, any defect or error resulting from actions taken by an official of the Commission in relation to any notice, form, or document made or given, or other things done by the official in pursuance of the provisions of the Constitution or of this Act, or any rules made thereunder, remain valid.
While accusing the state’s opposition party of electoral violations, the All Progressives Congress senator also insisted that challenging an already-announced result was pointless.
“You cannot review a result that they told us because it has already been announced. They said the motivation behind why they have not evaluated Fufore was that it was declared.”
He stated, “The elections were contentious, we prepared for a free and fair election, but the PDP did not prepare for a free and fair election; they prepared to bypass the elections and they prepared to compromise some officials.”
With the introduction of BVAS, we all voted in accordance with the electoral act and INEC regulations, so we prepared for the elections and they went well.
“The election was held, and the results were compiled. When the PDP learned that we had 37,000 votes in favor of APC, they sent someone and stole the election results. Someone was sent by the chairman of the local government, who snatched the election results and then vanished.