Adamawa: People like Yunusa-Ari have no place in democratic process—Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has slammed suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa state, Hudu-Yunusa-Ari, for his role in the political crisis rocking the state.

Makinde, who spoke with reporters when he stormed Yola to give solidarity with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, said people like Yunusa-Ari have no place in the democratic process

Yesterday, the hammer also fell on Hudu-Yunusa-Ari, who on Sunday announced Binani as winner in a usurpation of the function of the Returning Officer.

Yunusa-Ari announced Binani winner when results from only 10 local governments had been collated.

The electoral agency promptly nullified the announcement and summoned the REC and Returning Officer (RO) Mele Lamido, to its Abuja office.

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Makinde who stormed Yola to show solidarity with Fintiri, who was protesting Sunday’s result announcement, urged his host not to give up, saying INEC has enough people of conscience to do what is right for Adamawa, and democracy in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aishat Binani, has approached a High Court in Abuja to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from voiding her declaration as winner by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

Although INEC has resumed collation of results in Abuja, supporters of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to fire salvos at the electoral commission.

In a letter of April 17, 2023, and by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC asked the REC to stay away from the Commission’s office in Yola till further notice.

It asked the Administrative Secretary of the Commission in the state to take charge with immediate effect.

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The letter titled: “Commission’s directive to stay away from INEC, Adamawa State” reads: “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. Please, accept the assurances of the Commission’s warm regards.”

It was learnt that the REC was asked to step aside to ensure an unfettered probe.

For a comprehensive probe, INEC management opted for a confidential debriefing with some police and security officers deployed in the state.

A source said INEC was interested in unravelling the circumstances which led to the beating and stripping of one of its two National Commissioners deployed in the state by thugs.