IGP orders withdrawal of Adamawa CP, Barde, from election duty, redeploys CP Etim Equa from Gombe

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, on Tuesday ordered that the immediate withdrawal of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, from election duty in Adamawa State, after escorting, Hudu Yunusa Ari, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa, to the Governorship collation Centre in Yola, to illegally declare Aisha Binani of the APC winner of the yet to be completed collation of result.

The IGP, further ordered immediate deployment of the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa, to Adamawa State on election security duty for the supplementary governorship election concluded on Tuesday in Yola.

Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, emphasised that the IGP is committed to a free and fair electoral process.

The FPRO disclosed:  “The IGP has given directive that the commissioner of police on election security in Adamawa State, CP Barde should pull out of Adamawa State and the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa to proceed to Adamawa immediately, to go and supervise election and provide necessary information and ensure that the process is a success.”

INEC, on Sunday suspended collation for the Saturday supplementary governorship election in Adamawa, and further directed Yunusa Ari to stay away from office after he declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the APC, winner of the election; which was on the declaration of official result won by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP.