PDP seeks removal, probe of Adamawa CP, prosecution of REC

• Wants collation concluded, Fintiri declared the winner

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to, as a matter of urgency, remove, investigate and sanction the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Afolabi Adeniyi for allegedly providing cover and enabling the perpetration of the grievous criminal act against democracy in the state.

The party, at a press conference addressed by its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagu along with other members of the National Working Committee, NWC,

restated their demand that INEC should without further delay hand over Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to the police for investigation and prosecution.

The PDP insisted that the conduct of Mallam Ari must not go unpunished.

The PDP demanded the immediate declaration of the final results of the Adamawa State election and return the rightful winner, Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.

The PDP described the action of the Adamawa State REC as a reckless, inexcusable and unpardonable assault on the Nations democracy, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and the manifest Will of the people of the State, which they expressed in voting enmasse for the the party.

According to the PDP, “This action by Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari amounts to a ‘Civilian Coup’ with the intention to take control and install an illegal government in Adamawa State contrary to the provision of Section 1 Sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“For clarity Section 1 Sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides: The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

“The PDP insists that such subversive conduct of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari must not go unpunished. We restate our demand that INEC should without further delay hand over Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to the police for investigation and prosecution.

“The Inspector General of Police should, as a matter of urgency, remove, investigate and sanction the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police for providing cover and enabling the perpetration of this grievous criminal act against our democracy.

“The PDP, majority of Nigerians and indeed the International Community are now worried that in spite of the results of the election as obtained from the Polling Units, which show Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri in clear lead, INEC has continued to delay the conclusion of official collation, announcement and declaration of the rightful winner of the election.

“This continuing delay is heightening tension in Adamawa State and is capable of triggering a serious breakdown of Law and Order in the State, which is already overstretched as a result of the many perverse activities of the heavily compromised Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari.

“It is therefore imperative and urgent that INEC does the needful and save Adamawa State from serious crisis by directing the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele, to immediately conclude collation, declare the final results and return the rightful winner, Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected Governor of Adamawa State”, the party’s acting National Chairman declared.