Adamawa Guber Crises: REC, Yunusa, Risks Jail As INEC Writes Buhari, IGP

After a tight race during the Saturday 15 supplementary election in Adamawa State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Barrister Hudu Yunusa without result declared Senator Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, the winner of the State gubernatorial election.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that as early as 9 am, the REC appeared, with a cover provided by the commissioner of police and announced Binani the winner of the election without any figures.

This act contradicts the Electoral Act 2022 which mandates the Returning Officer, not REC, to announce such results.

Reacting to the declaration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a statement denounced the purported declaration of Binani as the winner.

The Electoral Commission said the action of the REC amounted to usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer, insisting it is null, void and of no effect.

“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect.

“Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended,” a statement by INEC read.

INEC also suspended collating of results of the supplementary election and summoned the REC to Abuja.

The Commission also wrote the REC ordering him to steer clear from its office in Yola, Adamawa State.

However, INEC said it would write the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Ahmed, to investigate and prosecute Hudu Yunusa Ari, the REC for Adamawa.

This Online News Media report that the decision followed the outcome of Tuesday’s technical meeting attended by the INEC’s national commissioners in Abuja.

The Commission also said it decided at the meeting to write the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, to brief President Muhammadu Buhari about the ‘unwholesome behaviour’ of the REC.

On April 18 2023, the Commission also 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.”

DON’T MISS: Peter Obi Blindsided APC In Lagos – Fashola

Upon the issue at hand, our Reporters gathered that Binani approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the electoral Commission from voiding the declaration that named her the state’s governor-elect.

She asked the court for an order prohibiting INEC from taking any steps further towards the declaration of the winner of the election until the court determines her application for judicial review.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while waiting for everything to be resolved expressed confidence he would be re-elected despite the controversy surrounding the gubernatorial election.

“I am not afraid of anything, whether the result will be tampered with or whatever will happen to the result,” he said.

At the end, this Online News Media reported that Fintiri was declared winner of the governorship election by the Returning Officer.