The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resolved to write to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to probe and possibly prosecute the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, over his conduct during the supplementary governorship election held on Saturday, April 15th, 2023
According to a statement released on INEC’s official Twitter handle on Tuesday, April 18th, the electoral umpire took the decision after its National Commissioners met at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja to discuss matters arising from the Adamawa Governorship election.
The statement read, “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.”
The commission also requested that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation draws the attention of the appointing authority to the “unwholesome behaviour” of the REC for further action.
It was gathered that INEC had directed Ari to stay away from all activities of the electoral umpire and the election in the state barely 24 hours before the commission’s decision.
The REC had stirred controversy when he announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s supplementary election, which was in contrast to the results from 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) that had been announced before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night.
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.
INEC had declared Ari’s announcement as an invalid declaration and an usurpation of the powers of the collation and returning officer.
The collation process, according to INEC, would resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer.
