PDP governors demand trial of Adamawa REC
Some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called for the prosecution of suspended resident electoral commissioner for Adamawa state, Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
In a statement released on the governors’ behalf, Cyril Maduabum, the director-general of the PDP Governors Forum, described the REC’ s action as a “national disgrace” and called for greater scrutiny in appointment of commissioners.
The governors said that the “process” of appointing “national and resident electoral commissioners” be reviewed, in order for INEC “to weed out corrupt and extremely partisan officials.”
“It is the partisan method of appointment of these officials that led to the national disgrace in Adamawa State.
“The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa, is perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 general elections.
“We commend the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.
“The appropriate returning officer, Mohammed Mele, should immediately conclude the collation and declare the result. One of the most important lessons of this election season is that the integrity of INEC personnel is crucial to free, fair, and credible elections as well as deployment of technology.”
Yunusa-Ari had declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aisha Dahiru (Binani), the winner of the state governorship while results were still being collated. INEC later voided the declaration, accusing Yunusa-Ari of usurping the powers of the returning officer.
