CDD condemns violation of Electoral Act

The Centre for Democracy and Development has described the declaration of the Adamawa supplementary elections by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, as an affront to the Electoral Act of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the CDD had rejected the results announced by the REC, Hudu Yunusa, noting that the results should rather have been announced by the Returning Officer.

In a statement by the Executive Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, on Sunday, the CDD noted that the Electoral Commissioner had illegally taken over the duties of the returning officer, adding that the action was capable of “provoking the breakdown of law and order in the state”, in light of the already tense political atmosphere.

Hassan called on INEC to promptly put measures in place to sanction the erring REC, and to follow the process of the law to promptly declare the winner of the election.

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The group also called on stakeholders and participants in the election process to remain calm and maintain the peace.

The statement reads in part, “CDD observed with utmost concern the unhealthy twist of events involving the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner who illegally took over the responsibility of the Returning Officer by declaring the result of the governorship election.

“CDD unequivocally condemns this brazen violation of the clear provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. The Electoral Act, 2022 make it abundantly clear in Section 25 (2f) that: “The returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner of the election at the State Collation Centre in the case of election of a Governor of a State.”

“It is an affront on the laid down procedure for the Resident Electoral Commissioner to have gone ahead to make the announcement when he is not empowered by the law to do so.

“CDD calls on INEC Headquarters to immediately put in place the appropriate process to sanction the erring REC, whose action is capable of undermining law and order in the State. CDD similarly calls for the process as spelt out in the law to be followed in promptly declaring the winner of the governorship election.

“Importantly, we call on all participants in the process and stakeholders across the State to remain calm and maintain the peace. We urge INEC to ensure prompt conclusion of the process in line with provisions of the Electoral Act and other extant guidelines”.