Adamawa Poll: Interpol Invites Suspended REC, Yunusa-Ari
INTERPOL has summoned the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari over his alleged misconduct in the state’s 14 April supplementary elections.
A letter from Interpol said Mr Yunusa Ari should report to the National Central Bureau in Abuja for questioning.
“The bureau is investigating a case of conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace, violation of oaths of neutrality, impersonating a collation/returning officer, disobedience to lawful order/directive, impersonation and announcing false governorship result of the just concluded Adamawa State governorship supplementary election,” of 15 April 2023, the letter, dated April 27, 2023, said.
The letter, signed by Garba Umar, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Interpol, did not specify a date for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chief to appear. Mr Umar’s designation also includes coordination of election monitoring and evaluation at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Mr Yunusa-Ari became a person of interest to the police after he hastily declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa governorship polls, a move that INEC said contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act since collation was still ongoing and Mr Yunusa Ari was not the returning officer and therefore unauthorised to make a declaration.
Mr Yunusa Ari soon left Adamawa State on a chartered flight after the announcement. President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his immediate arrest for the illegal declaration.
But people close to Mr Yunusa Ari said he was not on the run, adding that he became a target of powerful interest at INEC and Adamawa State following his refusal to compromise the exercise.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
