Appeal Court Affirms Fintiri As Adamawa Gov, Dismisses Aishatu Binani, Suit

An Appeal court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri.

The Court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed the judgement of the election tribunal, dismissing four separate appeals filed by Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC candidate, who was present in the courtroom on Monday, wanted the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare her the winner of the March governorship election in Adamawa.

The Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had in October dismissed the petition of Binani challenging the election of Fintiri as the governor of the state.

The tribunal had dismissed the petition, saying that the rogue REC, Hudu Ari, lacks the powers to return a candiate and the allegations of electoral malpractice as allege by the petitioner have not been proven.

Not satisfied with the tribunal’s victory, the APC candidate approached the appellate court. However, the court on Monday affirmed the Tribunal ruling, which earlier upheld Fintiri’s electoral victory in October.

Justices of the appeals court held that the fact that Rogue REC, Hudu Yunusa Ari, unlawfully arrogated powers that were not conferred on him by the electoral act makes Binani’s petition invalid. The judges concluded that the Tribunal was right to have struck out the petition.

However, on other grounds, the court held that the appellants’ evidence was inadequate in proving the allegations of overvoting, disenfranchisement, and other alleged irregularities.

The court held that the appellant failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.