INEC asked to prosecute Adamawa REC Yunusa-Ari, APC’s Binani

The Leadership League has called for the arrest and prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

The pro-democracy group decried how the official usurped the duties of the Returning Officer during the supplementary election in the state.

On Sunday, he declared the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate Aisha Dahiru Binani, the winner of the election, an action Governor Ahmadu Fintiri condemned.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on Monday, suspended Yunusa-Ari, with a warning to stay away from the commission’s office in Yola.

The Leadership League, however, insists what transpired in Adamawa was “a mockery of the electoral law”, and called for the arraignment of the REC and culpable security personnel.

A statement on Tuesday by the group’s national caucus members, May Ubeku, Ose Anenih, Babasola Kuti and Ayokunle Adekunle, labelled Binani’s declaration “a dent on the 2023 election”.

“INEC must initiate the process of prosecuting REC Hudu Ari and his co-conspirators who went beyond their official capacity to announce this fraudulent victory.

“We also call for the arrest of APC candidate Binani who knew the announcement was done outside the premises of our electoral law but declared herself governor-elect,” it added.

The group further described Yunusa-Ari’s action as “a serious indictment” of the security agency whose officers accompanied him “to attempt to murder democracy”.

The statement also commended INEC for disowning the declaration and urged the umpire to complete the process of the election as soon as possible.