INEC Suspends Adamawa REC Hudu Yunusa-Ari For Declaring Binani As Governor-Elect

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

KanyiDaily recalls on Sunday morning, Hudu Yunusa had declared Aisha Dahiru Binani, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s supplementary election in the state.

Yunusa had walked into the collation centre after the supplementary election was suspended on Saturday and announced Binani as the winner of the election.

According to him, Binani defeated the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to become the first elected female governor in Nigeria’s history.

However, the INEC reversed the declaration, explaining that the action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer, adding that the “collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.”

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Hudu Yunusa Suspended

In a letter dated Monday,  April 17, 2023, and addressed to the Adamawa State REC, the INEC asked Hudu Yunusa to stay away from its office in the state.

INEC’s secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony said the administrative secretary has been asked to take full charge of the office in Adamawa with immediate effect.

The letter reads in parts, “I hereby convey the commission’s decision that you (Barr Hudu Yunusa Ari) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State should stay away from the commission’s office in Adamawa State immediately until further notice.

“The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Aishatu Dahiru Binani accepted the controversial result of the Adamawa State governorship election despite the cancellation of her victory by the INEC.

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