PDP Demands Removal Of Adamawa REC Ahead Of Supplementary Election
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remove Hudu Yunusa, the Resident Electoral Officer in Adamawa State, before the supplementary poll.
INEC declared the March 18 governorship election in the state inclusive, with the PDP ahead with around 31,000 votes.
The supplemental election in the state has been scheduled for April 15 by the electoral board.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba accused the REC of participation in suspected schemes to rig the outcome of the state’s governorship election.
He claimed that Yunusa’s continuing tenure as governor and the INEC are fueling a breakdown in law and order in Adamawa State.
“According to credible information available to our Party, INEC is stoking a breakdown of Law and Order in Adamawa State by retaining Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari as Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) despite his alleged complicity in plots to manipulate the outcome of the Governorship election in the State, despite the PDP’s clear lead of 31,299 lawful votes in the election.”
“It is provocative and unacceptable that INEC retained Mallam Yunusa Ari to conduct the April 15, 2023 governorship re-run election despite being reportedly caught on tape directing the Electoral Officer of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State in Hausa Language to alter election results in favour of the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Aisha Binani.”
“Mallam Yunusa Ari’s continued tenure in office in the face of widespread public outrage in Adamawa State amounts to pushing the people to the wall and daring them to do their worst.”
“The PDP rejects the exposed INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner’s lame denial of the leaked audio tape.” The charge of prejudice is the foundation for an umpire’s recusal.”
The party further claimed that the REC gave identical directives to Electoral Officers in other Local Government Areas of the state in order to falsify election results. As a result, the party requested that the REC disqualify himself from supervising and/or conducting the re-run governorship election.
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“In light of these serious allegations and the public availability of the audio tape, Mallam Yunusa Ari should immediately recuse himself from supervising and/or conducting the re-run governorship election in Adamawa State on April 15, 2023.”
“The PDP wishes to inform Nigerians that INEC has relieved Dr. Nura Ali, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Sokoto State, over allegations of irregularities in the conduct of the recently concluded elections in that State.”There is no other explanation for Mallam Yunusa Ari’s continued appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State in the face of these serious allegations.
“Nigerians will recall that the Adamawa State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner was also accused of being at the heart of the failed attempt to move the collation of results of the Adamawa State Governorship election from Yola to Abuja, allowing the INEC Returning Officer to declare the defeated APC candidate as the winner; a move that was vehemently opposed by the people of Adamawa State.”
“The PDP warns that the people of Adamawa State will never give up their mandate to these heinous plots to manipulate the outcome of the State’s re-run governorship election.”
The ongoing presence of Mallam Yunusa Ari as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State is raising tensions and has the potential to destabilise the state’s calm.
“Mallam Yunusa Ari has clearly descended into the arena by allegedly siding with the APC, a political party in the contest, to the point of directing Electoral Officers to manipulate election results in favour of the APC candidate.”
“As a result, the PDP demands that INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu remove Mallam Yunusa Ari as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State immediately.”
The PDP, for its part, reiterates its presence in Adamawa State. Our party and candidate, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, are clearly in the lead, and we are prepared to hold a re-run election in the 69 polling units previously notified by the INEC Returning Officer.
“The PDP once again appeals to the people of Adamawa State, as well as our throngs of members and supporters, to remain calm but vigilant in their opposition to the APC and its candidate, who are desperate to steal the election.”
Meanwhile, the Adamawa state resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa criticised the 37000 votes APC allocated to herself from Fufore as fraudulent. Ari told newsmen in Bauchi that different results were being branded and they decided to use the one on the IREV, which turned out that the 37000 votes APC is claiming to have garner is fake.