Protests in Adamawa as PDP members take to streets over governorship poll controversy

Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Adamawa state have taken to the streets to express their displeasure with the declaration of Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the Adamawa 2023 governorship election. 

While the collation of results was still ongoing on Sunday, April 16, 2023, Barrister Hudu Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner declared Binani as the winner of the election. 

At the time Ari announced Binani as the winner, the results of the supplementary election from 10 LGAs were yet to be collated.

Following the controversial declaration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) summoned him to its headquarters in Abuja, suspended the collation process and also nullified the declaration.

But on Monday, PDP members marched through the streets of Yola, the capital of Adamawa protesting against the development, saying they would continue to protest until the collation of results resumes. 

A member of the party, who leads the protest, Deputy Campaign Director of the PDP campaign council in Adamawa, Felix Tangwama described the development as shameful and condemnable.

He said, “Adamawa citizens are demanding that the collation continue so that there would be peace in Adamawa.

“We are not happy with what Hudu and those in support of him did. Those that are supposed to enforce the law are sitting there with him. This is illegal, shameful and condemnable and those involved should be sanctioned and prosecuted.

“Therefore, we are here to stage a protest and we want to assure INEC that we will protest every day until the collation of results continues.

“Results are on the IREV and we would like to see the magic that can be used to change the results on the INEC Portal.”

He asked the INEC to conclude the election and announce the incumbent governor, Umaru Fintiri as winner.