Interpol invites Adamawa REC Yunusa-Ari over controversial governorship result declaration

Interpol has summoned Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari over his alleged misconduct in the state’s April 14 supplementary elections.

A letter from the 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 breach of 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 April 15, 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 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 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 after refusing to compromise in the exercise. Peoples Gazette exclusively reported a letter Mr Yunusa-Ari sent to the nation’s top security agencies alleging two INEC national commissioners Baba Bila and Abdullahi Zuru conspired with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election.

Mr Yunusa Ari said Mrs Dahiru got the highest number of valid votes, hence, won the governorship election. But Ithe NEC headquarters argued the result and said its final tally showed incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was reelected.

Several aides to the governor were arrested for allegedly attacking INEC officials and security agents, including a director of the State Security Service. The governor and his aides denied wrongdoing.

The police invitation would give Mr Yunusa Ari a chance to defend his declaration and argument as a precursor to a long-drawn legal battle over the matter.