Fintiri, who vowed that he would not allow anyone to truncate the will of the people of the state, however, urged the people to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the face of the provocation.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has described the declaration of results for the governorship election before the conclusion of the collation of results as the "height of their shameless brigandage".
Fintiri, who vowed that he would not allow anyone to truncate the will of the people of the state, however, urged the people to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the face of the provocation.
"Nobody should take the law into their hands," he said on Sunday.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Adamawa Resident Electoral Officer, Hudu Yunusa declared Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the governorship election in the state even though the law does not empower him to announce the results.
INEC also suspended the collation of results for the polls.
But shortly after, the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission nullified and voided the announcement of Binani as the winner of the governorship election and consequently invited Yunusa and some others for questioning over the declaration.
Reacting to the development in a statement, Governor Fintiri urged for calm, saying he believed that INEC was aware that the “integrity of the Commission is on test".
He stated, "Fellow citizens of Adamawa State, this morning we all woke up to an illegal announcement by merchants of anarchy headed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner - Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, who since the beginning of this election is bent on pushing our collective patience to its limit.
"It is on record that we went to the polls for the first round of the election on 18th of February, 2023. Even when it was apparent that I was coasting home to victory, this same gang aided the confusion that rendered the election inconclusive.
"As civilized citizens who were committed to democratic ethos, we accepted the situation in good faith and prepared for the rerun. Yesterday Saturday, 15th – April, the rerun was held peacefully across the State. The appropriate officers commenced the process of the collation. The first round of the collation went well with 11 LGAs collated before the process was adjourned to continue today 16th April at 11.00 a.m.
"Just when we were waiting for the resumption of the collation, the REC this morning took up a task, he is not constitutionally empowered to do by making an illegal announcement of the outcome of the election without result."
Insisting that the action was provocative, the governor said, "In this situation, I appeal for calm as always. I assure you that as your leader, I will ensure nobody thwarts your democratic rights."
He noted that INEC had distanced itself from the action of the REC.
"The right thing in this context is the conclusion of the collation at the designated location and the declaration of a winner by the Returning Officer in the person of Professor Mele Kyari.
"I must thank you for your resilience and resolve to not only exercise your democratic rights but to also protect it. We are on this until justice is done.
"Fellow citizens, once again, I call on everyone to remain peaceful and law-abiding trusting that the world is watching the enemies of democracy at the height of their shameless brigandage. Nobody should take the law into their hands.
"Let’s peacefully await the next directive from INEC believing that they do know that the integrity of the Commission is on test,” he said.