Barring further unforeseen circumstances, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) is set to release the results of Adamawa state's controversial and dramatic gubernatorial election on Thursday.
INEC, as a "committee" on the matter, will meet from Tuesday to Wednesday, said Dr. Festus Oque, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission on Information and Voter Education. 
The commission on Monday stripped Mr Hudu Yunusa-Ari of his REC, an Adamawa-based electoral commissioner, from his return as chief of his officer and Aisha Dahill, a candidate for the APC's All Progressives Congress. He suspended Senator Binani for unilaterally electing him. It was unfinished and controversial.
The announcement of election results is the responsibility of the elections officer, not the resident elections commissioner. INEC summoned the REC and his Mele Lamido, an electoral officer, to their headquarters in Abuja.
By the time the REC announced Binani as the winner of the ballot, the results of the 10 LGA by-elections were still pending.
Adamawa governor and People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ahmadu Fintiri was in the lead, according to results compiled on Saturday.
Aside from invalidating Yunusa-Ari's statement, the commission banned his REC yesterday amid protests from his PDP members and supporters in the state, knowing the results would be recognized. gave his 72-hour ultimatum to the election commissioner.
This comes after a group of civil society organizations, the CSOs, called the political drama over the Adamawa state by-election an attempt to derail Nigeria's democracy, prompting Muhammad to call on President Buhari to intervene. It is due to
Of his 26 states that have held gubernatorial elections, only Adamawa has yet to complete an election. The first election on March 18 was declared inconclusive with Kebbi. But while other additional polls were completed on his April 15th, Adamawa's polls were in a new crisis following his suspended REC action.
INEC is held on Tuesday or Wednesday
Asked when the coalition would resume after the REC suspension, Okoye said a "committee" would need to meet first to set a date for the resumption of training.
The "Committee" session includes meetings of the INEC President and his 12 National Committees.
Okoye said most of the national commissioners were on their way back to Abuja after being sent to the states to oversee last weekend's by-elections. “The commission has to meet as a commission to make decisions on this. , one was sent to Rivers, etc. They're on their way to Abuja.If they get to Abuja tonight (Monday), the committee will meet on Tuesday and decide on a date to proceed with editing. '' said Okoye. However, commission sources said the Election Commission said it did not intend to extend the process any further unless "legally required", and to ease tensions within the state, the verification process will not take place until the weekend. He added that it will be completed by
Bars REC by Adamawa INEC Office
Following Yunusa-Ari's unilateral actions, the INEC ordered his REC to stay clear of his office in Yola, Adamawa State.
In a letter from her secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, dated April 17, 2023, INEC instructed Adamawa's administrative secretary to manage her affairs.
Here is part of the letter:
“I hereby hereby declare the Commission's decision to keep you (Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari), Adamawa State Commissioner of State Elections, away from the Adamawa State Commission office until further notice. Tell you. "The Chief Executive has been directed to assume full responsibility for INEC in Adamawa State, effective immediately."
Stop this Adamawa shame show, PDP government tells his INEC
The People's Democratic Party, the PDP, and the Governor's Forum, led by Aminu Tambwal, condemned what they called lasting stigma in Adamawa state over the gubernatorial election.
The PDP GF called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to put an end to the dangerous show by wiping out corrupt and openly partisan staff.
The request was contained in a statement signed by his C.I.D., Executive Director of the Forum. Late Monday, Madu Abum, Abuja.
The PDP Governor said:
“The attempted ballot robbery and robbery committed by Adamawa Election Commission Trial Attorney Hudu Yunutha is probably the low point of his 2023 general election.
“We applaud the immediate steps taken by INEC as an agency to foil its failed coup attempt and restore its tarnished image by suspending the REC. “The electoral officer in charge, Mele Lamido, should complete the compilation and release the results immediately.
“One of the key lessons of this election season is that INEC staff integrity is critical to free, fair and trustworthy elections and the use of technology.
“For the future, we need a conscious process to reconsider the appointment of national and local election commissioners in order to weed out corrupt and highly partisan officials, which has led to national stigma in Adamawa state. is the partisan nature of the appointment of these officials.
“Appropriate sanctions, including the prosecution of all involved, especially former Resident Electoral Commission Counsel Hudu Yunutha, should be enacted swiftly to set an example for others.
“We enjoin all Nigerians to be on alert as we brace up to emerging threats to our democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria.”
PDP supporters protest, demand announcement of poll result
Meanwhile, members of the PDP in Adamawa, yesterday, demonstrated over the governorship election and gave INEC 72 hours to announce the result.
The protesters, who marched through the streets of Yola, the state capital, held placards that read:
“Adamawa is not for sale;” “INEC the world is watching;” “ Enough of supplementary saga”; and “INEC declare the Adamawa governorship results now or never, we can no longer wait any longer” and “Adamawa REC must go” among others, said PDP supporters would be forced to take a decisive action after the expiration of the ultimatum.
Speaking with reporters during the protest, Felix Tangwami, deputy director-general of the PDP campaign council in Adamawa, said the electoral commission should conclude the election and announce Fintiri as the winner.
Fintiri's first term in office expires on May 29.
Mr Tangwami accused the REC of being partisan in the decision to declare the APC candidate winner of the election even as the process of election was still ongoing. Tangwami, who led the protest march to INEC, said the PDP and its supporters were driven to the wall over the issue.
CSO asks Buhari to intervene
The CSO also called for the immediate arrest of Aishatu Binani, Adamawa REC, Police Commissioner, DSS Director General and NSCDC Commander for "conspiring a coup against democracy".
In a statement issued by Mada Ibrahim and Michael Ayuba James, the CSO said:
“In light of the anti-democratic coup by Senator Aishatu Dahir Ahmed Binani, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the National Police Commissioner, the Director of National Security and the Adamawa State National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) ), the concerned civil society organizations (CSOs), urge President Muhammadu Buhari to order the arrest of the above-mentioned anti-democratic forces on charges of treason and constitutional violations.
As a full-blown democrat, this call has become incumbent on President Muhammadu Buhari in order to save Nigeria's nascent democracy from being supplanted by desperate conspirators for their self-serving and whimsical proclivities”.
The group said democracy, especially in Adamawa State, “will continue to be under serious threats if the mentioned elements are not duly prosecuted in line with Nigeria's extant rules for treason.”
The statement read in part:
“The president whom we know for his towering credentials and integrity should not allow some few individuals to truncate our hard-earned democracy because doing that is archetypal to allowing them to rubbish all his efforts at ensuring a credible electioneering process at the twilight of his exit from power.
In this respect we want to acknowledge the decisive role played by the headquarters of INEC, which wielded the big stick against their erring REC by calling off his bluff and maintained the narrow path of honour and truth.”
“We urge INEC to as a matter of urgency order the arrest and prosecution of the REC so as to serve as deterrent to others and to also assert that the electoral umpire is truly independent.”
“We are constrained to call on Mr. President to constitute a full blown inquest into the sordid happening with a view to prevent future ugly occurrences.”
“We noted with concern how a senior lawmaker Senator Aishatu Binani chose to ignore all the illegality shrouded in declaring her Governor-Elect and gave an acceptance speech.”
“The speed at which the speech was read immediately after the illegal declaration shows that the whole sordid act of rascality was premeditated and perfected among the conspirators of doom.
We hereby call for her immediate arrest and questioning in order to ascertain what actually transpired. Aishatu Binani should be questioned for giving an acceptance speech after being declared Governor Elect illegally.”
“Similarly, by giving acceptance speech, Binani has participated in an attempt albeit illegally to remove a sitting governor, she should therefore be disqualified from participating in any future polls”. “We asked the Police Commissioner, the Commander of the Nigerian Civil Defense Forces, and the Ministry of National Security why these senior security officials escorted Mr. Ali Hudu to the INEC Center, where he illegally made his announcement. I request you to start an investigation as to what happened."
"Likewise, state-sponsored Independent National Electoral Commission officials have demonstrated gross incompetence, prejudice and favoritism aimed at suppressing the desire of Adamawa voters to hook Binani into office. We are aware of that.” Through the governor or the crooks.