Controversy surrounds the strange announcement of Aisha Binani as Adamawa State governor-elect by Yunusa Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

Ari, on Sunday morning, arrived the state collation centre to declare Binani winner following a supplementary governorship election held on Saturday.

This, he did, in the absence of Mele Lamido, the state’s returning officer, and without results from 11 of the 21 local government areas in the state.

Reacting to the declaration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voided Binani’s purported victory and invited Ari to its headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement issued by the commission, and seen by FIJ, INEC said the exercise was yet to be completed.

INEC’s statement read in part, “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.

“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect.Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.”