Following the attempt to award victory in the ongoing state governorship election to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State in Yola.
Recall that the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa-Ari, declared Aisha Binani the winner of the election despite the fact that results from 10 local governments had yet to be submitted for collation.
The REC’s action, however, was declared null and void by the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which recalled Yunusa-Ari and suspended the state’s collation exercise.
Speaking during the visit on Monday, Makinde described the action of Yunusa-Ari as unimaginable and a shame.
He, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm as he expressed the belief that their wish would count.
“They should just keep calm. This will be resolved and their decision will be respected by the authorities,” he told reporters.
Asked about his view on the action of Yunusa-Ari, the Governor stated: “It is unimaginable. It’s a shame really that somebody of that calibre will do something like that.
“But again, we have stories and we strive as we evolve in the process of getting people who will do certain things for us to be a little more vigorous. People like the current REC will have no place in our future democratic process.”
On his assessment of INEC on the conduct of the general elections, Makinde said: “At least, in Oyo State, I know they did the right thing.
“So, I am saying to them so that (they) do what is right for our democracy and for the people to know that the process is being reformed and that reform should keep getting better.
“I know they will do the right thing. I’m almost certain of that.”