Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday approved the immediate suspension from office of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, Resident Electoral Commissioner, of Adamawa State pending the completion of investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the conducts and actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State.
The President also has ordered the investigation of the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, of the role of their officers in assisting the conducts and actions of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
He emphatically stated that if they are found culpable, appropriate disciplinary actions will be meted out to them.
In a rather depressing point of electoral rascality widely seen as more disappointing than any situation in the past, Ari, INEC’s REC for Adamawa State, had in the early hours of last Sunday, declared Binani as winner of the state governorship election, when collation had not been concluded.
But INEC reversed the purported declaration few hours later.
The Commission had said the action of the REC was a move to usurp the power of the Returning Officer and had declared the declaration null, void and of no effect.
Ahmadu Finitiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was later declared the winner of the election.
Binani also dismissed reports that she had offered the sum of N2 billion as bribe to an official to be declared winner of the election.
Afterwards, INEC had written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali to investigate Ari for possible prosecution and Alkali on his part had ordered for the replacement of the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Adamawa State, Mohammed Barde.
Chioma Kalu
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