INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu
By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Malam Hudu Yunusa-Ari, for declaring Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani of APC the winner of the Governorship election while collation of results were still ongoing.
The Commision also directed Malam Yunusa-Ari, to immediately stay away from the state office until further notice.
INEC gave the directive in a letter dated April 17, 2023 and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
It also directed the state administrative secretary to take charge of the state office immediately.
The letter read: “I hereby convey the Commission’s decision that you ( Hudu Yunusa-Ari), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State should stay away from the commission’s office in Adamawa State immediately until further notice.
“The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect.
“Please, accept the assurances of the commission’s warm.”
NATIONAL ACCORD recalled that INEC had declared the victory of Adamawa state All Progressives Congress candidate earlier declared by the state REC as null and void.
In a statement signed by the National Commissioner, Information & Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye on the Commission’s official Twitter handle, INEC said, ‘The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.”
“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.”
