Barely twenty-four hours after barring the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, from its premises, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, for Ari’s immediate investigation and possible prosecution.
The petition and other decisions were taken on Tuesday, in Abuja, after a meeting of the commission’s authorities, in which matters arising from the Adamawa governorship election were discussed.
The commission said in a statement that it also requested the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to draw the attention of the appointing authority to the unwholesome behaviour of the REC for further action.
It noted that the collation process of the Adamawa state governorship election shall resume at a time to be determined by the returning officer.
Recall that Ari had on Sunday illegally declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aishatu Binani, as winner of the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election, which took place last Saturday.
INEC has condemned the move as usurpation of the powers of the returning officer, describing the announcement as null and void.
The commission also issued a statement, late Monday, barring the embattled REC from its office in the state, pending the determination of ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the official result of the election is still being awaited as INEC is yet to commence final collation of the results.
