Election Tribunal Dismisses Binani’s Petition, Affirms Fintiri’s Victory

Daji Sani in Yola

The Adamawa State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, the state capital has dismissed the petition by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the reelection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Delivering the judgment yesterday, Justice Theodora Obi Uloho, said the petition lacked merit and substance.
She said the petitioners failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Binani had challenged the election of Fintiri, alleging that the exercise did not comply with the Electoral Act.
However, the tribunal dismissed Binani’s petition and affirmed Fintiri’s victory.
The governor had secured a total of 430,861 votes in the entire election, while Binani got 398,788 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner after the April 18 supplementary election.
Shortly after the tribunal’s verdict, Governor Fintiri described his victory as the triumph of truth, morality, and honesty over falsehood and deceit.
The governor who made the position during a statewide broadcast, thanked the judiciary for being bold, upright, and courageous.
“Today, we are all witnesses to the triumph of reality over fiction; truth over falsehood, and honesty over deceit.

“It is a verdict in favour of popular will; it is a verdict that reaffirms that the truth is sacred and justice is proportionately served to all parties,” the governor said.
The governor noted that the verdict has closed the first phase of litigation, adding that even though the tribunal has consumed productive time and energy, as the captain of the ship, he remained undeterred in his resolve to work for the betterment of the state and its people.

“We have remained undistracted on our mandate and undeterred on the delivery of good governance to Adamawa State.
“This victory is therefore only a tonic that would spur us to rededicate our commitment to the call of our democratic mandate by ensuring that in Adamawa State we leave no one behind and nothing untouched,” the governor added.