Court of Appeal to Decide Fate of Adamawa State Governorship Dispute on Monday

In a pivotal moment for Adamawa State politics, the Court of Appeal is poised to announce its decision on Monday, December 18, concerning the appeal lodged by Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the state’s governorship race.

Binani challenges the victory of Ahmadu Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who currently holds the position of state governor.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, having previously heard the case and reserved judgment, is set to deliver the highly anticipated decision on Monday, as confirmed by sources in Adamawa. Binani had sought recourse from the Court of Appeal after the Adamawa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal dismissed her petition in October 2023.

Binani’s petition to the tribunal, filed shortly after the election, called for the annulment of Governor Fintiri’s declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to alleged non-compliance with the Nigerian Electoral Act during the March 18, 2023 election.

Despite Binani’s efforts, the tribunal upheld Fintiri’s victory, prompting her to appeal the decision.

As the state awaits the Court of Appeal’s judgment, tension builds among the supporters of the two principal figures, Fintiri and Binani.

While Fintiri benefits from the incumbent governor’s goodwill, Binani, who garnered significant voter support in the March 2023 election, faces challenges due to perceived desperation in accepting or possibly orchestrating an early declaration as governor-elect before the completion of election result collation.

Despite these concerns, Binani maintains substantial support across the state.