Murtala Nyako wins Adamawa governorship election

With results from the 21 local government areas in the state collated, a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, has reclaimed the governorship seat he lost 10 days ago.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate garnered 302, 986 votes to beat his Action Congress of Nigeria challenger, Markus Gundiri, who  polled 260, 405 votes. The candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Buba Marwa, was only been able to win 107, 564 votes.

Mr. Nyako won 13 of the 21 local goverments while the ACN candidate prevailed in eight.

By winning the majority of votes and 25 per cent of votes in two-thirds of the local government areas in the state, Mr. Nyako has fulfilled the constitutional requirements to be pronounced winner.

Mr. Marwa, a former military administrator and presidential aspirant, was not able to win anywhere. 

He was roundly defeated in his home local government of Michika.

The election has shattered the permutations of political pundits who predicted a keen contest but saw victory going the ACN candidate’s way.

And Mr. Gundiri indeed started well, enjoying an early lead last night.

Our correspondent say the outcome of the election has left many people in the state transfixed and many others bemused.

The state’s returning officer, Prof Mohammed H. Mohammed, vice-chancellor of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, is now being awaited to officially announce the result of the election.

The ACN returning officer, a Mr. Sonny, alleged there were alterations in some result sheets and hinted that his party might challenge the result in court.

See full breakdown of result here