Adamawa Re-run: INEC Suspends REC

The Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Adamawa state, Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari has been suspended by the 

 Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for illegally declaring the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Aisha Dahiru Binani as Governor-elect in last weekend’s rerun election.

In light of this, the REC has been instructed to avoid the commission’s office in Yola, Adamawa state.

As a result, INEC has mandated that its Administrative Secretary in the state take control of its business in a letter dated April 17, 2023, and signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

Part of the letter 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”.

Yunusa-Ari has been under fire since he made the announcement. Before the supplementary poll, the incumbent governor Ahmadu Fintiri polled 421, 524 votes ahead of Binani who got 390, 275 votes.

However, Fintiri was not declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election by the state by the state returning officer, Professor Mohammed Mele, following the margin of the lead after the number of cancelled votes in 69 polling units.