- Resumes collation of result in Adamawa

The Independent National Electoral Commission, has reported the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari to the appointing authority, President Muhammadu Buhari, for possible sanction.

According to a statement released by the Commission on its social media handles, the suspended REC was reported to the President through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The Commission has also decided to write the Inspector General of Police for an immediate investigation and possible prosecution of the suspended REC over Adamawa State election.

“At its meeting today, 18th April 2023, the Commission discussed matters arising from the Adamawa Governorship election and decided to:

“Write to the Inspector-General of Police for the immediate investigation and possible prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.

“Request the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to draw the attention of the appointing authority to the unwholesome behaviour of the REC for further action,” the statement read.

The Commission has also decided to resume to collation of results in the State at a time to be decided by the Returning Officer for the State.

“The collation process shall resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer.”

The Commission had announced the suspection of Barrister Yunusa-Ari, following is purported declaration of Senator Aisha Dahiru popularly called Binani as the Governor-Elect of Adamawa  State.

The REC usurped the power of the Returning Officer to the State, Sunday, and announced Senator Binani as the winner of the election while collation of results from the rerun scheduled for Saturday in the state was yet to be completed.

His suspension was announced by Barrister Barr Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement released on Monday.

The suspended REC has been asked to stay away from the Commission’s office in Adamawa while the Administrative Secretary was directed to take over the affairs of the office until further notice.

“Following his purported declaration of the result for the Adamawa State Governorship election yesterday Sunday 16th April 2023, the Commission has withdrawn its delegated powers from Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari mni as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the State.

“Accordingly, he has been directed to stay away from the Commission's office in Adamawa State forthwith.

“Meanwhile, the Administrative Secretary has been directed to take over the affairs of the State office until further notice."

The Commission had rejected the controversial declaration of Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed as the winner of the Adamawa Governorship Election in the State, by the Suspended REC.

The Commission, in a statement via its social media handles, declared as null, void and of no effect, the announcement of the Senator, popularly called Binami, as the Governor-Elect of Adamawa State.

Returning Officer, Professor Aliyu Shugaba, had suspended the collation of result till 11am on Sunday, but the Resident Electoral Commissioner, emerged around 9am to announce the winner of the election without figures.

He was at the collation center with security chiefs from the State who prevented aggrieved party members from attacking him after the unauthorized announcement.

The INEC in the statement said, “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.

“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.

Both the REC and the Returning Officers were immediately invited to Abuja.

“The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.”

Senator Binani had accepted her announcement as the Governor-elect.

Bunami is contesting with the current Governor of the State and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ahmadu Fintiri.

The PDP had two weeks ago insisted on the removal of REC, alleging involvement in a conspiracy to manipulate the outcome of the result of the election.

Addressing a press conference at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the main opposition party, Debo Ologunagba, maintained that Ari’s continued stay in office does not augur well for the supplementary exercise slated for April 15, 2023.

Drawing the attention of Nigerians and the International Community to the conduct of the INEC, with respect to the re-run election, the PDP spokesman warned of a possible breakdown of Law and Order with Ari’s continued stay in office.

He said, “Despite his alleged complicity in the plots to manipulate the outcome of the Governorship election in the State, even with PDP’s clear lead of 31, 299 lawful votes in the election.

“It is provocative and unacceptable that INEC retained Mallam Yunusa Ari to conduct the April 15, 2023 governorship re-run election despite being reportedly caught on tape directing the Electoral Officer of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State in Hausa Language to alter election results in favour of the defeated governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Aisha Binami.

“The continued stay in office of Mallam Yunusa Ari in the face of the widespread outcry by the people of Adamawa State amounts to pushing the people to the wall and daring them to do their worst.

“The PDP dismisses the lame denial of the leaked audio tape by the exposed INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner. The basis for recusal by an umpire is the accusation of the likelihood of bias. In this case, apart from the accusation, there is audio evidence against Mallam Yunusa Ari and he cannot by any standard superintend over the Adamawa Governorship re-run election without widespread suspicion of his actions."