PRESIDENT-Elect Bola Tinubu, has asked the Nigeria Police Force to investigate what transpired during the supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.
Tinubu also urged all those who feel aggrieved at the outcome of the poll to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 presidential election disclosed this in a statement he signed and released via his Twitter handle on Wednesday, April 19.
He also called on all those elected in the general elections to brace themselves for the task ahead, urging them to rededicate themselves to selfless service.
He wrote: “With the conclusion of the 2023 elections, I now welcome all of us who have been elected to brace up to serve our people with diligence and dedication and to join hands with me as your President-elect in the pursuit of our agenda to renew the hopes of our people in a better, stronger, more secure, economically vibrant and prosperous Nigeria.
“I congratulate the winners of the Supplementary Governorship elections held in Kebbi and Adamawa States on Saturday, April 15, 2023. I also rejoice with those elected into the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly during the last round of elections in states where such took place. These victorious men and women have earned the trust of their people and I call on them to rededicate themselves to the service of their respective constituents.
“The supplementary polls have now brought the 2023 elections to a final, fitting conclusion. I observed, with satisfaction, the largely peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the supplementary election on Saturday. It was a further testimony that our citizens have accepted democratic norms and have unalloyed faith in the electoral process.
“However, I note the matter of Adamawa Supplementary Governorship Election and I urge police authorities to fully investigate all that transpired in the election given the attendant controversy.
“In every democratic contest there has to be one winner. I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.”
The ICIR had earlier reported how the resident electoral commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, illegally announced APC’s Aishatu Binani as the winner of the election despite ongoing collation of results.
The announcement caused widespread outrage among residents of the state and some concerned Nigerians.
Subsequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission nullified the announcement made by the REC, noting that it was unconstitutional and unofficial
On Tuesday, April 18, the electoral body finally declared Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election after collating the the result of the supplementary election.
According to the returning officer of the state Muhammed Melee, Fintiri secured a second term in office after polling 430,861 votes to defeat other contestants.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M