The Independent National Electoral Commission has written Inspector -General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba for immediate investigation and possible prosecution of Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari.
At its meeting today, 18th April 2023 in Abuja, the Commission discussed matters arising from the Adamawa Governorship election and decided to request Secretary to the Government of the Federation to draw attention of appointing authority to unwholesome behaviour of the REC for further action.
It was reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monday, has asked the Resident Electoral Commissioner Habu Ari, who illegally announced the wrong governorship election result in Adamawa state to stay away from the commission’s office in the state.
On Sunday morning when newsmen, observers and the party agents had gathered for the resumption of the collation of results of Saturday’s supplementary governorship elections, Ari breezed in at 9.00am and declared Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) of All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.
As a first step, the Electoral Body disowned the REC’s decision, saying it’s null and void and further to that, in a letter on Monday, the INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony said the commission also directed the administrative secretary in the state to take charge of its activities with immediate effect.
This comes barely 24 hours after Ari was summoned to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. “I hereby convey the Commission’s decision that you (Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State should stay away from the Commission’s office in Adamawa State immediately until further notice,” parts of the letter read.
The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect,” the letter added. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri who is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, called for calm just as his party asked for Ari’s arrest.
It was not clear if the Adamawa REC obeyed the directive that he should report to Abuja, as INEC’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye, did not respond to calls when one of our reporters sought some clarification in this regard.
Also, Ari’s decision triggered a controversy that led to the harassment of an INEC National commissioner, Abdullahi Zuru, who was in Adamawa for an official assignment. Zuru, a professor, was mistaken for the REC and stripped half naked in a viral video circulating on the social media.