By OUR REPORTER
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, resolved to write the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, to probe and prosecute its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The electoral umpire reached the decision when its National Commissioners met at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday over Adamawa supplementary governorship election.
The INEC had on Monday directed the REC, Hudu Yunusa Ari, to stay away from the commission’s office till further notice. The order followed growing political tensions in the aftermath of the state’s governorship election, which was suspended for the second time on Sunday after an uncompleted Saturday rerun.
The directive barring Ari from INEC’s office came as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Adamawa State governorship election, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, approached a Federal High Court in Abuja for leave to file an application for judicial review of the administrative decision of INEC made on April 16 in respect of her declaration as winner of the governorship election held on March 18 and the supplementary election of April 15.
But Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state gave INEC a 72-hour ultimatum to conclude the supplementary poll and declare the winner of the governorship election.
In a string of tweets on its official handle, INEC said, “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 collation process shall resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer.”
The decision of the electoral body is coming barely 24 hours after it directed Ari to stay away from all activities of the electoral umpire and the election in state.
The INEC REC had on Sunday stirred controversy when at about 9am he announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of Saturday’s supplementary election over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
INEC had immediately summoned Ari to Abuja and declared his announcement an invalid declaration and an usurpation of the powers of the collation and returning officer.
Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from 10 LGAs had been announced — and Binani was trailing Fintiri.
The collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs was expected to commence by 11am on Sunday, and Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.
According to the constitution, Lamido is the rightful official empowered to declare the winner of the election.
