ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Following the indefinite suspension of Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Independent National Electoral Commission, has decided to write to the Inspector-General of Police to prosecute the REC.
Information made available by INEC on its Twitter handle on Tuesday indicates that the electoral umpire rising from its meeting this (Tuesday) morning has decided to write the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to investigate the suspended REC and prosecute him accordingly.
It also resolved to report the REC to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for further disciplinary action.
Sundiata Post recalls that Yunusa Hudu, had on Sunday, 16 April 2023 usurped the role of the Returning Officer and illegaly declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Binani as Governor-Elect of Adamawa State following the supplementary election held on Saturday, April 15, 2023.
However, INEC management immediately pronounced the declaration illegal, null and void and summoned the REC to Abuja, following which he was placed on an indefinite suspension.
Festus Okoye, Commissioner in-charge of voter education, had in a statement described the action of the REC as usurpation of the powers of the Returning Officer for Adamawa State governorship election.
Meanwhile, INEC has directed that collation of results of the supplementary election would resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer.
See the INEC tweet below:
BREAKING NEWS
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 18, 2023
At its meeting today, 18th April 2023, the Commission discussed matters arising from the Adamawa Governorship election and decided to:
1. 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.
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 18, 2023
2. 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.
3. The collation process shall resume at a time to be determined by the Returning Officer.
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) April 18, 2023
Detailed official statement will follow shortly.
