 INAG declares Fintiri winner of a Damowa governorship pose and Inspector General of Police Announcement's removal of Police Commissioner in a Damowa overconduct of supplementary elections as INAG demands investigation and prosecution of a Damowa wreck. This is Plus Quality, and I am Mary Annacolm. The Independent International Lecture Commission, INAG, has declared a matter for Fintiri The winner of the Damowa state governorship election, the Returning Officer Mohammed Mealy declared the incumbent Fintiri of the People's Democratic Party winner on Tuesday after polling 430,861 votes to defeat his major counterpart Aisha Binani of the All Progressive Congress, APC, who polled 398,788 votes. The coalition exercise in the state was stopped on Sunday after President-electional Commissioner Houdu Ari declared the candidates of the All Progressive Congress Binani winner of the elections, which led the commission on Monday to ask Houdu to stay away from office. Meanwhile, federal high courts in Abu Dhabi Tuesday declined the request to hear an exparte motion filed by the governorship candidate of the APC in a Damowa state Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed Binani. Binani approached the court for a leave to file an application for judicial review of the administrative decision that was taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission on April 16 in respect of her declaration as the winner of the governorship elections in a Damowa state, which held on March 18, and the supplementary elections on April 15. Now, she argued that after the coalition of results, INAG declared her the winner of the election but the People's Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate Amada Fintiri, the incumbent governor who was seeking a second term in office, violently disturbed the public peace and attacked an INAG national commissioner. Now, she went ahead to claim that the crisis that ensued forced INAG to void the original declaration naming her the governor-elect of the state. She also ordered that INAG did not have the power to void the declaration made as only an election petition tribunal has the power to void such a declaration. Well, joining us here to discuss tonight this and other matters is John Shribal, he's a member of the PDP Presidential Convention Committee and also joining us is Honourable Angul Angul, who is a North Central Zonal Coordinator at TIKU Support Organization. Thank you so much, gentlemen, for joining us. Thank you very much. Great. Gentlemen, we're definitely going to be delving into the books when it comes to Governor Fintiri who is obviously now going to sit for another four years as governor of Adama Oste. But let's start by looking at what happened and what transpired which led to the unrest and of course INAG's role in all of this. INAG has obviously declared Governor Fintiri and as we were speaking earlier on he has been issued his certificate of return which makes him the governor-elect of Adama Oste. But let's look at the situation where INAG had to discipline its resident electoral commissioner and called the action, a usurping of the power of the returning officer. I'm going to start with you, Angul. Why do you think that this happened? Because many have queried that action knowing that we're coming from an election where there are so many questions that need to be answered. Thank you very much. Good evening, Nigerians. We want to first of all thank Almighty God for saving Nigerian distress of going through a political coup. A coup d'etat almost happened in Adama Oste. We are the resident electoral commissioner that by the electoral act he has no past confined on him to declare a winner in an election. Those past are resident with the returning officer. So I want to thank Almighty God and Congratulate Nigerians for not seeing a political coup happen in Adama Oste. And to answer your question, what would have resulted to the crisis we almost saw in Adama Oste was the result of the usurption of a past by the INEGREC Pudu Yunusa Ari. He usurped the past of the returning officer of the election. The previous day that elections had, the coalition was going on. And at some point by 11, by 1 a.m. of that day, of that Sunday, it was himself that said let's resume coalition by 11 a.m. Only for him to return to the hall by 9 a.m. to declare the APT candidate winner of the election. In total disregard for the law because the law does not give him, as I said before, the powers to declare the winner of the election. Not just that. All the candidates were yet to be chosen. So when do you wish for declaring winner of the election? Election results by the previous returning local government and returning officers. Thank you for what you wanted to show. The crisis we almost had in our hands as Nigerians and in Adama Oste particularly. I would like to use this opportunity to commend INEGREC, particularly the National Body, for standing up tall in defence of democracy. Nigerians won, democracy won. And not just the people of Adama Oste that won, but we all won. It's not Amadou Mourou Fintiri's win. It is a win for all of us that are true believers in democracy. A lot of people are celebrating with the governor of Adama Oste, who is also now governor-elect, being that he's been issued his certificate of return. A group of people had congratulated him and said that he not only contested against several other people and Binani, but he was contesting against forces of darkness. I wonder what they meant by that. But let's look at the man himself and his fast tenor in office and what he has seemingly achieved. Many people would say that in four years there's not a lot that you can achieve. But then we must recognise that he was given an iconic governor award sometime last year, I think in 2021, setting him aside as one of the most iconic governors. But aside from that, how well has he governed Adama Oste from your perspective? I mean, he's your party man. Our confidence we get from those that are really on ground in Adama Oste. There is great transformation that is taking place in Adama Oste. He's built a lot of flyovers. The streets are littered. And that has extended into several parts of the state in the areas of provision of primary healthcare, payment of salaries, up to point payment of salaries. You know, this is some of the basic, literally the accent. The Nigerian people are not asking you for too much. The accent that you provide them with the basics. And from the feelers, and you can see from the jubilations on the streets of Adama Oste, it is very clear that this man is loved by the people. And I would like to take all down memory lane when Nyaku was the governor and he had some issues, his deputy was removed. And His Excellency Umara Amadou Fintri came and acted for three months. What really endured him to the people was that when he came, there was a backlog of salaries for eight months. And within that period, he was there. He cleared all of those salaries. And that really, really endured him to the people. And as such, when he presented himself for leadership as the point man for that aspect, the people did not hesitate. But I know that the man is really, really a child of destiny because in 2019, his election ran into, sorry, in 2015. 2019 now, 2019 now, his election ran into a rerun. And in 2023, the same scenario is presented itself again. So His Excellency Umara Amadou Fintri is one I would like to say is a child of destiny. And it is as if all that he has gotten in life comes with a battle. But at the same goes, the bitter the battle, the sweeter the victory. And I know that the sweetness of those victories will be when he consolidates on some of the dividends of democracy he brought to the people of Adamawa that made them to overwhelmingly vote for him again, made them to stand by him even in this very, very trying period. In the last, should I say, 42 hours were very trying moments or higher for him. When, just like you mentioned, forces of darkness, people that are bent on bringing our democracy down, colluded. And I know that our collusion came from high top. If not, you will not see a commissioner or police accompanying a wreck to commit illegality. You will not see the boss of the Civil Defence Corps accompanying the wreck to commit an illegality. You will not see also see the boss of the DSS. So I want to say quickly that by the time the investigations have been done over what happened in Adamawa on Sunday, the investigations should go wide. The dragnet and those that should be prosecuted. It shouldn't just be a matter of eye neck. Everybody that was sitting with Mr. Houdu, units that raided money to commit that illegality should be prosecuted because we are talking about the morality of those countries, the morals of those countries. We shouldn't have a situation because the younger generation are watching what is happening. Where somebody contests in an election, I mean, because his friends come and declare him winner. If nothing is done in prosecuting those ones that committed this illegality or were part of it, we are going to set a very bad precedent for our democracy. Thank you. Let me go to John. John, let's talk about the politics within the PDP in Adamawa State. There are speculations and certain allegations that the flag bearer, that's the presidential candidate of the PDP, was not necessarily supporting Govnoff Interior in this election. How true is it? First of all, I would like to congratulate the PDP family. I also would like to congratulate the Adamawa family and the PDP people and also Govnoff Interior because it was a trying moment for our nation, especially for our nascent democracy. I think this is one victory for democracy, but we should take it further by ensuring that the peaceful is done, like Angus said, the persecution of everyone involved in that democratic coup. I'm not certain if a coup is democratic, there's nothing democratic about a coup. Because I can't imagine a civilian committing, it used to be the army, but when a civilian decides to go the other way, you know how desperate such a person is. But let me say this. As a tease, whoever is saying Artiku is not behind Govnoff Interior, is that a joker? What is the relationship between Mr. Finteri and Mr. Buvaka? Father and son's relationship and leader and follower relationship. That is the relationship. And also a party leader and two party leaders' relationship. Because you could see Artiku was on ground. He should have gone for Hajj, but he's Nigeria. That shows you how important that election is to him. That shows you how important Finteri is to him. So anybody trained that wild card in the airway of writing has actually been mischievous. Artiku is a democrat. Artiku would not have to make noise. Artiku does not quarrel with anyone. He is a gentleman by excellence. That I believe every politician should couple with him. So Finteri and Artiku's relationship is solid. And nobody should tell you otherwise. Nobody should tell you otherwise that there's another relationship beyond that. Very cordial, very connected. Listen, if you go to Adamawa, they will tell you for a very long time that they never knew that Finteri and Artiku are this close. And don't forget that a true leader is seen by this action. And that action, Artiku and Buvaka have actually portrayed in Adamawa consensuality. And he has spoken about it. He wrote a very, very, very poignant press release that actually that everything must be done to ensure that the needful is done. He put his word out there. So I don't know what else people are asking for from him. Now Angus spoke about some of the strides that he's made in his first tenor. And you know as a politician that the first tenor is when every person who's serious tries to prove himself. But then we've also seen in this country how politicians in their second tenor take a back seat and do nothing, make promises and don't keep those promises. What's in this second tenor for the people of Adamawa state? And how do we see a Finteri playing out in the next four years? I get that early this month, I think in the first of April, there was this back and forth between him and Boya disagreeing over electoral violence. He was also allegedly pointed to as one who sponsored thugs to disrupt the elections. Well, Finteri, the gentleman, even with this, with the situation that happened, he won this election from get-go. He was already leading Binani by about 31,000 votes. And what was left from the 69 polling units was about 34,000 votes. And in Nigeria election, there's no way you can even have a 50% turnout. The largest we've heard in Adamawa or so was Dori Buari's time, 39%. So let's assume. Let's even assume he decided to give Binani 15,000. She couldn't have won. So he won just the mischief behind the hope and the scenario that played out for what cost for this round. Now, Finteri, for a person, go to Adamawa today. All the hospitals, you see the land market, or Finteri, go to that, to any local community road. Go to Adamawa today. You'll see schools. That is what Finteri has brought to the table. And that is a man that could blend with the Christians and the Muslims. You understand that Adamawa is a Christian Muslim community. You have the house, the family, and the chamber. This is a man that can sit in any of the community and be accepted. Right? So this has endeared him to a lot of people. He's a man of the people. He's a man that's ready out of the little resources that Adamawa has, is able to manage and turn around Adamawa's state. Go, just take a trip. Maybe on your next vacation, go to Adamawa, take one or two days' trip, and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's not just about talking about it. It's about saying it. Because politicians these days, the people just talk about what they don't even know about. And I believe in this second term that thinking we improve on what is done and also as a payback for the trust and the confidence that people of Adamawa have placed on him concerning this election. They stood by him. The joy on the street is something else. Everybody's talking about it. No violence. He's not going around seeking for congratulating messages. People are actually congratulating him. Do you understand? So that is worth talking about. Do you understand? So that is what Pintiri is all about. And that is what a group in leadership called Leadership League is also all about. They ensure they will also, they've seen that this is a man that has a pedigree to do what is needful. And that is why the PDP family is behind him. And Juniors are behind him. And actually, I believe that the reason they wanted to plant that electoral coup was because this man is acceptable. That's the only way they could have done it to win because someone has performed you don't change your winning team in the middle of the game. Okay, let me talk about some of the mistakes that political pundits have appointed under the Pintiri administration. One of those is the fact that politically he has centered Adamawa's social political economy around himself. These are a group of political analysts analyzing what he's done and what they categorize as mistakes. They've also said that, I mean, you and I know this, that Adamawa state is one of those states that you can categorize as a civil service state. And the governor, obviously knowing this, salaries, wages, contracts and patronage are the oils that are supposed to lubricate whether we like it or not, social and economic order of a state. The governor himself knows this. He knows more than anybody, but we hear that he chooses to look the other way. He has underestimated political implications of such stands. And he's doing this according to them because he wants to get a second tenure. Hence my previous question. In the first tenure, governor tries to position himself and make himself look like the good guy. But how are we certain that that same staying power will go? How do you even build a political economy around one person? We hear that he runs an inclusive government, but how inclusive is that government? And do we see this playing out for the long run? Well, you know, most analysts, as long as it's not part of their family or part of their political equation, they tend to want to run it down, especially when you say performing government. We've seen in this country, a governor that's been voted out, a sitting governor couldn't get a second term. And it's a GMOB is one of them. Right? We've had one or two others. So for people to come with that direction, you see, Pinterest is not known to be the person that will be giving out money to people when they don't deserve it. Whatever you get is what you deserve. Right? So projects are done with all sense of transparency. Projects are done that would actually affect the people directly. It's not about just being frivolous with money. Just become a man that will just be giving out money to people just to feel good. No. It's about the people for him. And what I know of him, governance is about the people. Governance is about all. Governance is about inclusiveness. Now, there's no, no, within the system, in Adamawa, you see all tribes, all religions. And that tells you of a man who is ready to serve the people, a man who is committed to service. John, John, I like, I like how you're, you're trying to praise Govnoff in theory, but I want to just quickly go to Angu now. Angu, I just want to take your mind back to some of the PDP stakeholders in Adamawa State that used to be a backbone for the party who have left. I mean, for example, we've had the likes of Senator Aboy Shaku, former Govno Balanguilari, we've had Senator Grace Bent, many others. But we also realize that the Govno had failed and his team failed to realize that they, at this point, they've not been able to attract those same kind of kinds of people in the PDP that have that same kind of prowess like the ones that they've lost to the APC. So again, like I said, Eleon, if everything centers around the Govno, how is that best serving the interests of the party? Because again, the PDP cannot be about one person. We've seen how this has played out even before this election and how it's still playing out today. Yeah, thank you very much. Democracy is a government for the people and by the people. It's not about one big name, formalities, formal dates in democracy. I know a lot of our people tend to peddle their names. When the electoral value is, it's not there. You know, all the names you are calling, Senator Abo, Inglari, Grace Bent, mention them. A lot of these politicians are living on past glory. They have nothing to offer the people and most of them, if you check the reasons why they left the PDP, it wasn't big, it wasn't ideological. It was because of their personal selfish interests that made them to leave the party. Whether you're moving from the APC to the PDP or the PDP to the... I mean, this is what it is, whether we like it or not. Politicians leave for selfish interests. They don't leave because they want to serve you and I. They can serve from anywhere. There's always been... Pardon? This is the case for every politician, isn't it? They always leave for one personal reason or the other, not necessarily in the interest of the people. Am I right? So what makes these guys different? I mean, I have to say that Governor His Excellency Oma Ramel Dufenty was never perturbed by the fact that the so-called big names you are mentioning left the party. He kept on giving the people the dividends of democracy and by the special grace of God today has been re-elected against and over all odds to continue the good works in Adamawah bringing governance closer to the people giving the people dividends of democracy. That is what we want. It's not about one big name or the other. It was this, it was that. Democracy should be about the people. Democracy should be about giving the people dividends. Democracy should be about bringing governance and the doorstep of the people. The people need good hospitals, the people need good roads the people need to have access to affordable drinking water, the people need to have access to electricity. These are just the basic demands of the Nigerian people. Oma Dufenty has a chance now he should do more and write his name in gold in Adamawah. Well, we hope that that's what happens. Thank you. John Tribble is a member of the PDP Presidential Convention Committee and Honourable Angu Angu is the North Central Zonal Coordinator at Tikku Support Organization. Thank you so much gentlemen. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. Thank you for being here. Thank you. Thank you very much. It's good to have us in your studio. All right. Well, we'll take a quick break. When we return, we'll continue our discussion on the calls for the prosecution of the Commissioner of Police in Adamawah State as a result of the fallout during the Adamawah State election. Stay with us.