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Atiku raises alarm, says Adamawa REC playing script of INEC Chairman

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1 year ago

April 18, 2023

... OF A RECKLESS REC, COMPROMISED SECURITY PERSONNEL AND SENSIBLE FEDERAL JUDGE- THE TRAGICOMEDY CALLED ADAMAWA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION! By Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri Only a fool will deliberately swallow a lead hook. It is poisonous and can lead to death. Adamawa governorship election was an obvious ticking time bomb the moment it went into supplementary stages. Any wise person could have known that but the REC thought otherwise. He declared results in the most unlawful manner known to law before the cameras. It was ultra vires his powers to declare any result having not been appointed and designated a Returning Officer in the Governorship election. To say the least, that REC was reckless. He acted without scrupples. Imagine declaring so called results when collation had not been completed and when it was not within his powers to make the return. In the foolish belief that the law is an ass, he forgot that only fools ride it. It was an avoidable risk but the REC wilfully chose to disobey the laws of the land. He swallowed a lead hook on purpose. Only time will tell if he will not lose his commission and or prized liberty when he has his day in court soonest. You ought to know is the worst form of indictment. The REC ought to know the law. He is said to be a lawyer. The law fixes knowledge of the law on all lawyers. This grand tragicomedy of an illegal declaration that threatened the peace and tranquility in Adamawa State was staged before or supervised by security officers. Yes, video evidence showed that in that lawless and illegal outing, the REC was flanked by security men [uniformed and non-uniformed] whose primary responsibilities are to keep law and order. How can the security chiefs not know that collation of results was not done with? How did they not know that the REC was not the Returning Officer? How the security chiefs became stupified, deaf and dumb and refused to act in the face of that unprecedented act of electoral banditry and brigandage by the REC is what the higher authorities must unravel. Heads must roll. "Sleeping on duty" is not a light indictment in security circles. On the contrary, the Federal Judge who was approached for judicial review of the charade of an unlawful declaration of result by the REC was sensible and deeply restrained. A judge is as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Judicial discretion is best exercised judiciously. This particular judge was very circumspect of the bait thrown at him. He refused to make restraining orders in an exparte application that could have bespatterd the face of the judiciary with contempt and public opprobrium. The wise and prudent Judge asked the applicant to come back on notice and satisfy him that the Court has jurisdiction to entertain a post-election matter that should be the turf of the Election Tribunal. The Judge deserves heavy commendation. There are still very many courageous and upright Judges. Many citizens will agree. Meanwhile, the fumbling and wobbling INEC got the call in Adamawa governorship election right amidst the legion of electoral atrocities committed by its high and low ranking officials including ad hoc staff waiting for redress. Latest development is that the beleaguered INEC has done the needful as required by law. With the governorship result lawfully declared, dissatisfied parties are now approach the appropriate forum to ventilate according to rule of law. Rule of law is a common denominator and cherished principle in any democracy. Even villains seek the protection of the rule of law when they are caught in the act. Now that the bubble has burst, the impetuous REC and compromised security chiefs in this Adamawa governorship imbroglio would talk of due process, fair hearing and fair trial notwithstanding that they refused to act according to rule of law when they held sway. So much tragedy, comedy and temptations in the Adamawa Governorship election. In the end, some fell for the booby traps while some jumped and passed. Naija na cruise. Talk of one week, one trouble. A new normal is possible!

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The Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, on behalf of his principal, on Monday raised alarm, saying that the electoral misconduct perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commission, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, is nothing different from what the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, did during the Presidential poll. Shaibu was of the view that the Adamawa REC was playing the script of the INEC chairman.

Shaibu in a statement on Monday recalled that Yunusa-Ari had on Sunday announced Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, the APC governorship candidate in Adamawa, as the winner of the election even while the results were still being collated.

The Adamawa REC has since been suspended by the headquarters of the commission while the announcement of the results has been postponed indefinitely, he noted.

Shaibu in the statement, emphasised that the national leadership of INEC could not pretend to be unaware of the many allegations hanging on the neck of the Adamawa REC.

Shaibu added that the suspension of the Adamawa REC without his arrest and prosecution was merely a slap in the wrist.

According to the Special Assistant, “It is crystal clear even to the blind that the Adamawa REC learnt well from the INEC Chairman. INEC as an organization, from the top to the bottom is akin to Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. As a matter of fact, the baby goat learns to eat grass by diligently watching the mama devour the lush grass around them”.

He maintained, “Over a month ago, Sahara Reporters published an audio clip where the Adamawa REC was heard directing an election official, Hammajam Mohammed, to rig the governorship election in favour of Binani.

“In the leaked audio, Yunusa told Mohammed to do everything humanly possible to make Binani win. He told the electoral official that he was instructed by a higher authority to make Binani win. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri complained severally about the compromised REC but INEC did nothing about it.

“Despite having over one month to prepare for this supplementary poll, INEC retained this compromised REC who went ahead to undermine the election once more. From all that has happened, it is obvious that Yunusa-Ari was acting on orders from above and that is why Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s warnings were ignored.

“This carefully orchestrated action is a reflection of the electoral heist of February 25, 2023 when the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, decided to announce Bola Tinubu of the APC as winner despite the many irregularities and complaints from several opposition parties. Indeed, Yunusa-Ari acted like his father and boss, Mahmood Yakubu.”

Sahibu said the Adamawa fiasco came as no surprise since INEC had always been in bed with Binani and had even admitted in a statement that it awarded a contract to one of her companies.

He further stated, “INEC had in a statement by National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, admitted to awarding a sensitive contract to the Binani Printing Press Limited, a firm owned by the APC governorship candidate.

“In the statement, Okoye had claimed that the company was awarded the contract as a way of stimulating the economy and encouraging Nigerian enterprise. It is obvious that Binani and INEC are in bed together.”

Shaibu said Yakubu’s name had become a by-word for scorn after conducting the most flawed election in the history of Nigeria.

Atiku’s aide wondered why INEC under the leadership of Yakubu had failed to deliver a credible poll despite receiving the largest budget ever.

He added, “How will Mahmood Yakubu be remembered? Well, Nigerian singers like Falz and Vector have already composed a song titled Yakubu so that generations unborn will remember the sort of character he is. The video alone has garnered over one million views on Youtube and has become a social media sensation.

He said: “This is a man who promised over and over again to upload the results of elections in real-time unto the INEC’s portal and failed to do so yet he lacks the decency to apologise to over 200 million people. Nearly two months after that shambolic election, all the results have yet to be uploaded.

“Results from Rivers State even show that Tinubu did not even win in that state. Rather than suspend the announcement of results, Mr Yakubu decided to announce Tinubu as the winner. One wonders how such a man sleeps at night.”