The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, to recuse himself from conducting the April 15 supplementary governorship election in the state.

The PDP said this at a press conference addressed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ologunagba said Ari’s continued stay in office in spite of the PDP’s outcry over his alleged complicity in the plot to manipulate the outcome of the governorship election was unacceptable.

“In view of grave allegations and evidence of an audio tape already in the public domain, Ari should recuse himself immediately from superintending and/or conducting the re-run governorship election in Adamawa on April 15,”he said.

Ologunagba stated that there was no justification for the continued stay of Ari as REC in the state in the face of the grave allegations except for sinister reasons.

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“The PDP demands that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, immediately remove Ari as REC in Adamawa.

“On our part, the PDP restates that it is firmly on ground in the state.

“Our party and candidate, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri are in clear lead and we are ready for the re-run election in the 69 Polling Units already announced by the INEC returning officer,” the PDP spokesman added.

Ologunagba, however, enjoined the people of Adamawa State and PDP supporters in the state to remain calm.

INEC fixed April 15 for the supplementary election in Adamawa State after declaring the March 18 governorship election inconclusive.

The incumbent governor of the state and the PDP candidate had scored 421,524 votes against Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressive People (APC) with 390,275 votes.

INEC, however, declared the election inconclusive due to the margin of votes.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele, said the election was cancelled in 47 registration areas, 69 polling units with the total number of 41,796 registered voters.

The Star