Following the controversial announcement of the Adamawa state governorship election result by the resident electoral commissioner of the state Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked him to stay away from its office in the state till further notice.
The directive was conveyed in a letter on Monday signed by the secretary to the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Recall that the REC had declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Adamawa state governorship election when results from 10 LGAs had not been announced.
Oriaran-Anthony in the letter, said the administrative secretary has been asked to take full charge of the office in Adamawa with immediate effect.
“I hereby convey the Commission’s decision that you (Barr. 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,” the letter reads.
According to the electoral act, only the returning officer is empowered to declare the winner of the election.
Based on the announced figures, Binani was trailing Ahmadu Fintiri, the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, INEC said the declaration by the REC was null and void.
The commission suspended the collation of results and invited the REC, returning officer, and all those involved in the collation process to its headquarters in Abuja.
