APC’s Binani seeks judicial refuge amid controversial declaration

Senator Aisha Dahiru (Binani) has sought a judicial refuge following her controversial return as the winner of the last Saturday’s governorship poll. Adamawa state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, had declared Dahiru the winner while collation of results of the election was yet to be completed. But INEC voided Dahiru’s return, a decision she has decided to challenge in court. Based on her filings on Monday, Dahiru urged the Federal High Court, Abuja, to review INEC’s decision to void her return, as pronounced by Yunusa-Ari.

Dahiru, popularly called Binani, also asked the court to bar INEC from taking other steps, pending hearing of her motion ex parte.

This crisis, noted, led INEC to cancel the initial declaration which whe said it had no power to do as only the election petition tribunal is vested with such powers.

By cancelling her declaration, Senator Binani contends that INEC usurped the powers of the election petition tribunal which is the only court vested with powers on declaration on the conduct of an election.

Binani through her lawyers led by  Hussaini Zakariyau, SAN, argued that “a judicial review exists to enable the superior court to checkmate the actions and decisions of inferior courts as well as the legislative and administrative arm of government including agencies and public officers.”