The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has called on the police authority to investigate the issues that surrounded the supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State held on Saturday.
That, he said, was necessary in view of the controversy that surrounded it.
Tinubu made the call on Wednesday in a statement he issued on the election.
Recall that controversy was ignited when the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, allegedly usurped the power of the Returning Officer and announced the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as winner before the completion of collation of results.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, noting the irregularity suspended the collation.
The collation was later resumed and at the end of the exercise, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, emerged the winner.
Tinubu’s statement reads in full:
“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.
“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.”