The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has asked the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, to investigate the activities of the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa Ari in the April 15 rerun election in the State.
The embattled official is currently at large.
While the INEC petition, the spokesperson of the police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement acknowledged the receipt of the petition.
Adejobi said the police boss Usman Alkali Baba has the police to collaborate with INEC to investigate the matter.
“The Nigeria Police Force is in receipt of a letter dated 18th April 2023 from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) detailing the alleged impropriety of the actions of one Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), during the recently concluded supplementary elections and called on the Police to investigate and possibly prosecute the REC for his actions.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, has directed an investigative team to work in collaboration with the INEC to expedite action on the contents of the letter.
“The Inspector-General of Police while expressing the commitment of the NPF to upholding democratic values, assures Nigerians and the international community, that the Police will leave no stone unturned in unraveling the remote causes of the unwholesome conduct of the REC as well as ensure that all persons fingered in the course of investigations are brought to book,” Adejobi said.
It would be recalled that the Adamawa State REC, on Sunday April 16, 2023 declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani the winner of the election even while collation of results had not been concluded.
The management of the electoral body quickly addressed electoral manoeuvre by suspending the REC and postponing the declaration of the winner till further notice.
INEC on Tuesday April 18, 2023 said it would communicate with the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman to investigate and prosecute the controversial the REC.
INEC announced the incumbent Governor of the State, Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party PDP as the winner of the supplementary elections in the State.
He defeated 13 other governorship candidates in the state to clinch his second term as Governor after a serious hassle.