COVER
PDP, Governors’ Forum Celebrate Fintiri’s Guber Election Victory
By Jude Opara, Johnson Eyiangho, Gom Mirian (Abuja) & Yagana Ali, Yola
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the victory of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the Adamawa State Governorship election as a momentous triumph for democracy and the Will of the people of the state “over tyranny and desperate manipulative forces which sought to take over control of the state illegally”.
The party said in a statement by its Spokesman, Hon.
Debo Ologunagba, yesterday, that the jubilation of citizens in Adamawa State at the official declaration of Fintiri as the rightful winner of the election irrespective of the schemes by the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a confirmation that the PDP and its candidate are indeed the choice of the people.Ologunagba said Fintiri’s overwhelming victory is a validation that the Will of the people cannot be subdued no matter the plot by a tyrannic, domineering and power-grabbing few who, with over-bloated ambition, desperately sought to subvert democracy, scuttle the electoral process, compromise the judiciary, subjugate the people and impose an unconstitutional regime in the polity.
“The PDP salutes the courage, resilience and determination of the people of Adamawa State in resisting the defeated APC and compromised INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari in their bid to destabilize the State.
“Our Party also lauds the Adamawa State Returning Officer, Mohammed Mele for his courage in standing on the side of justice, due process and democracy in the discharge of his duty.
“The PDP salutes the roles played by the International and domestic election Observers, the Media, Organized Civil Society and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians in ensuring that the mandate of the people of Adamawa State freely given to the PDP and our Candidate, Governor Fintiri, was not hijacked by APC supplanters.
“The PDP congratulates Governor Fintiri and the people of Adamawa State and urges the Governor to continue in his landmark transformational delivery of democracy dividends to the people in line with the manifesto, programmes and policies of the PDP,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday, declared the PDP Governorship Candidate in the March 18, 2023 Election, Rt Hon Umaru Fintiri, as winner of the election.
Fintiri scored a total of 430, 861 votes to defeat his closest rival, the APC Candidate, Aisha Binani, who scored 398,788 votes.
This was after the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, usurped the authority and power of the Returning Officer in the election, and declared the APC candidate as winner on Sunday, while collation results were ongoing.
However, the INEC headquarters intervened by nullifying the declaration and summoned the REC and officials involved in the exercise to Abuja.
Also yesterday, the PDP Governors’ Forum has congratulated one of its members, Adamawa’s Gov. Umaru Fintiri on his re-election.
In a statement issued by the forum’s Director-General, Mr CID Maduabum in Abuja on Tuesday, it described Fintiri’s victory as victory for democracy.
“It was a hard-fought and hard-won victory, not just for Gov. Fintiri, but also for Adamawa; for democracy and for due process in Nigeria
“Indeed, Nigeria has just been rescued from descent into the abyss,” it stated.
The forum also commended INEC for the way it handled the election.
“It is in this regard that the Commission is requested to promptly re-visit all other elections where infractions had been identified.
“Where matters have been taken to the tribunal, INEC should assume a garb and toga of neutrality and inform the tribunals of the actual events that transpired in elections,” it added.
The PDP governors called on Fintiri to continue to justify the huge mandate and trust of the people of Adamawa.
INEC declared Fintiri winner of the supplementary governorship election in Adamawa having polled 430,788 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Sen. Aishatu Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 398,788 votes.
INEC Declares Fintiri Adamawa Guber Election Winner
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday has declared incumbent Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the governorship supplementary election in Adamawa State.
Fintiri polled 430,788 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Sen. Aishatu Binani, of the All Progressives Congress, APC who scored 398,788 votes.
Announcing the result yesterday in Yola, the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele, said that the supplementary poll was conducted in 69 Polling Units across 20 local government areas of the state.
“Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes in the election is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he said.
INEC had fixed April 15 for supplementary governorship poll following the declaration of the March 18 election inconclusive in the state.
However, controversy trailed the purported declaration of the APC’s Binani as the winner of the supplementary poll by the Adama State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
The commission, thereafter, declared the pronouncement null and void.
It’s Not Yet Uhuru – Atiku
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for emerging as the winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State.
The state returning officer, Prof Mohammed Mele said Fintiri of PDP scored a total of 430,861 to defeat Sen Aishatu Ahmed Binani of the APC, who polled 396,788.
Reacting on his Twitter page, Atiku said Fintiri deserved re-election.
He also thanked the people of Adamawa State for resisting coupists and enemies of democracy.
“Congratulations, Gov Ahmadu Fintiri, on your deserved reelection as governor of Adamawa State. Thank you to the people of Adamawa and men and women of goodwill for staying the course in resisting coupists and enemies of democracy from having their way.
“The lesson from this exercise and others is the need for Nigerians to be vigilant and never give in to anti-democratic forces whose objective is to snatch, run with and undermine the mandate of the people as freely expressed in their votes.
“By the way, it is not yet Uhuru as we still have one more major mandate to reclaim, and together as ONE, we shall accomplish the task for the good of our country and its people.”
INEC Asks IGP to Arrest, Prosecute Adamawa REC
Barely 24 hours after he was suspended from office, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will soon write the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) to immediately arrest, investigation and prosecution the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
INEC disclosed this in a statement it put out on its verified Tweeter handle on Tuesday after its meeting in Abuja.
The Commission further disclosed that the collation process of results of the supplementary governorship election in the state would resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer.
“At its meeting today, April 18, the Commission discussed matters arising from the Adamawa Governorship election and decided to:
“Write to the Inspector-General of Police for the immediate investigation and possible prosecution of the REC for Adamawa State, Yunusa-Ari.
“Request the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to draw the attention of the appointing authority to the unwholesome behaviour of the REC for further action.
“The collation process shall resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer. Detailed official statement will follow shortly,” the Tweet read.
It could be recalled that the embattled Yunusa-Ari had on Sunday declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Aishatu Dahiru winner of the Adamawa state Governorship election even as the collation process was still ongoing.
The development forced the INEC headquarters to immediately same Sunday to suspend the collation process and summoned the REC and all other electoral officers involved in the process to report in Abuja.
Similarly, the Commission on Monday directed the State Administrative Secretary to take over the running of its affairs in the state.
Court Declines Binani’s Restraining Request Against INEC
A federal high court in Abuja has refused to hear an ex-parte application by Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from invalidating her declaration as winner of the Adamawa state governorship election.
At the court session yesterday, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, asked Binani’s lawyer, Mohammed Sherif, to first address the issues of jurisdiction before hearing the substantive motion.
The court ordered Binani to file her address on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the application within two days.
Afeez Matomi, counsel to Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa, who was in court was not allowed to make submissions since the APC candidate brought the action through an ex-parte application.
Ekwo thereafter adjourned the suit till April 26.
The Adamawa governorship supplementary election was conducted on Saturday following the declaration of the March 18 poll as inconclusive over alleged irregularities.
The collation of election results was suspended till Sunday after results from 10 LGAs were announced.
However, INEC discontinued the exercise after Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner, declared Binani, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner.
Yunusa-Ari made the declaration when outstanding results were yet to be announced — but the electoral umpire subsequently described his action as null and void.
The electoral body said the declaration of a winner is the responsibility of the returning officer.
This made Binani approach the court with an ex-parte motion.
Binani applied for leave of the court to allow her to seek, “an order of prohibition and certiorari removing to this court for the purpose of being set aside the administrative decision of the 1st respondent made on 16th April 2023 in respect of the declaration of the winner from the gubernatorial election of Adamawa state held on the 18th of March, 2023 and the supplementary election held on 15th April, 2023”.
The APC candidate also wants an order “preventing the 1st respondent, its agent, assign or any person acting on its behalf from taking any further steps towards the declaration of the winner from the gubernatorial election of Adamawa state held on the 18th of March and the supplementary election held on 15th April 2023, pending the determination of the application for judicial review”.
She claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Fintiri, resorted to stirring violence after she was declared the winner.
She averred that INEC staff were caught up in the violence and were manhandled which caused the electoral commission to cancel the initial declaration.
Binani submitted that INEC lacks the power to cancel an election result as such power is constitutionally vested in the election petition tribunal.
IGP Replaces Adamawa CP over Role in Poll
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, has asked Mohammed Barde, commissioner of police in Adamawa, to withdraw from the state.
The IGP ordered Etim Equa, Commissioner of Police in Gombe State to proceed to Adamawa immediately to provide election security in the state.
Muyiwa Adejobi, police spokesperson, made the announcement yesterday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.
There have been calls for Barde to be redeployed from the state following the declaration of Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in Adamawa.
Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Commission (INEC), on Sunday, announced Binani winner of the election while under police protection led by Barde.
Adejobi said the force led by Baba is committed to a free and fair election process.
“The IGP has given a directive that the commissioner of police on election security in Adamawa state, CP Barde should pull out of Adamawa state and the commissioner of police in charge of Gombe state, CP Etim Equa to proceed to Adamawa immediately, to go and supervise the election and provide the necessary information and ensure that the process is a success,” Adejobi said.
The Adamawa governorship supplementary election was conducted on Saturday following the declaration of the March 18 poll as inconclusive over alleged irregularities.
The collation of election results was suspended till Sunday after results from 10 LGAs were announced.
However, Yunusa-Ari declared Binani as the winner when the results from the remaining LGAs had not been announced.
INEC subsequently discontinued the exercise and described his action as null and void, adding that the declaration of a winner is the responsibility of the returning officer.
The development triggered protests in the state. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged a demonstration on Monday, marching through the streets of Yola, the capital of the state.
Meanwhile, INEC has commenced the collation of election results in the state.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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