There was confusion at the collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yola, Adamawa State on Sunday morning as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) declared Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the rerun governorship election.
The announcement threw up protest from many present at the collation centre as other results were being expected until the REC made the announcement, a duty usually performed by the state returning officer.
The REC, Prof Hudu Yunus Ari, declared Binani as winner midway into the collation.
Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.
Results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas had been declared while the exercise was adjourned till 11am.
However, Ari announced the final result an hour before the scheduled time.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading before the pronouncement was made.
Some PDP supporters in the hall had protested why the announcement was made by the REC instead of the returning officer.
Meanwhile, INEC has suspended the collation of the results and the REC has been directed to report at its headquarters in Abuja immediately.
