Professor Hudu Yunus Ari, the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, has been reportedly arrested by the police shortly.
According to a report by Sundiata Post, the REC was traced to City Green Hotel, Yola, this Sunday morning (16 April 2023) shortly after he committed the worst election heist by declaring Senator Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as winner of the Adamawa governorship election even when collation is yet to be completed.
Prof Hudu Yunus Ari declared Binani winner midway into the collation.
Results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas had been declared while the exercise was adjourned till 11am.
However, Ari announced the final result an hour before the scheduled time.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading before the pronouncement was made.
In a swift response, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through Federal Commissioner in charge of information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election held in 21 local government areas of the state on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Okoye described the action of the REC as usurpation of the duty of the returning officer.
The commission declared the announcement by Ari declaring Binani as winner null and void.
Okoye’s announcement summoned the REC, returning officer and those involved to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja immediately.
