Sanction REC, others involved in Adamawa show of shame, PDP Governors tell INEC

*Want partisan, corrupt INEC officials weeded out

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-GF, have called for the appropriate sanctioning and prosecution of the now suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari and others involved in the unilateral declaration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the state, Senator Aisha Binani as the Governors-elect of the state, while collation of results was still in progress.

The PDP Governors Forum declared that such sanctioning should be swiftly commenced to serve as deterrent to others.

The PDP-GF made the call in a statement on Monday by its Director-General, Hon CID Maduabum in Abuja.

The forum equally enjoined all Nigerians to be on alert and brace up to emerging threats to the nation’s democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria.

The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Yunusa Ari, according to the PDP Governors, was perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 General elections.

They however commended the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.

According to the statement by Maduabum, “The PDP Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, strongly condemns the show of shame in Adamawa State on the April 18 supplementary Governorship election.

“The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari is perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 General elections.

“We commend the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.

“The appropriate Returning Officer, Mele Lamido, should immediately conclude the collation and declare the result.

“One of the most important lessons of this election season is that the integrity of INEC personnel is crucial to free, fair, and credible elections as well as deployment of technology.

“Going forward, there should be a deliberate process of revisiting the appointments of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to weed out corrupt and extremely partisan officials. “It is the partisan method of appointment of these officials that led to national disgrace in Adamawa State.

“Appropriate sanctions, including prosecution of all those involved, especially the former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari should be swiftly commenced to serve as an example to others.

“We enjoin all Nigerians to be on alert as we brace up to emerging threats to our democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria”, it said.