Adamawa REC Will Be Investigated By IGP, Persecuted By INEC

Additionally, INEC said that the Returning Officer will set a time for the continuation of the collation process for the supplemental governorship election in Adamawa State.

In order to investigate and bring Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa State, to justice, the INEC decided to write the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on Tuesday.

The decision on the Adamawa supplemental governorship election was made by the electoral umpire on Tuesday during a meeting of its National Commissioners in Abuja, the commission’s national headquarters.

INEC stated in a series of tweets from its Twitter account that at its meeting today, April 18, 2023, the Commission addressed issues related to the Adamawa Governorship election and resolved to:

“Plaintiff Hudu Yunusa Ari, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, should be the subject of an immediate investigation and potential legal action, the Inspector-General of Police should be informed.

“Request that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation call the appointing authority’s attention to the REC’s unwholesome behavior so that it can be addressed.”

When determined by the returning officer, the collation procedure will resume.

A mere 24 hours had passed since the electoral body had ordered Ari to refrain from participating in any of the electoral umpire’s operations or the state election before making its judgment.

When declaring Aisha “Binani” Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the victor of the Saturday supplementary election over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the INEC Regional Electoral Commissioner (REC) had caused uproar on Sunday at around 9am.

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As soon as Ari’s announcement was made, INEC called him to Abuja and deemed it to be invalid and an infringement on the collation and returning officer’s authority.

Results from 10 LGAs had been announced before the collation procedure was put on hold on Saturday night, and Binani was in the rear-view mirror of Fintiri.

Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari declared Binani the winner of the poll. The collation of results from the other 10 LGAs was scheduled to begin by 11am on Sunday.

The legitimate representative authorized to announce the election winner is Lamido, in accordance with the constitution.