INEC files 6 charges against suspended Adamawa REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a six-count charge against the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

Okoye noted that the charges were filed at the High Court in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

He said the electoral umpire filed the charges after reviewing the case file from the police which established a prima facie case against Yunusa-Ari.

The INEC official stated: “Having reviewed the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Commission has filed a six-count charge against him at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola.

“Consequently, the court has fixed Wednesday 12th July 2023 for the commencement of trial.

“Meanwhile, the Commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases.”

Yunusa-Ari made headlines after declaring the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Binani, as the winner of the poll while the collation of results was still ongoing at the INEC’s collation centre in Yola on April 16, 2023.

The suspended REC, who said the APC candidate scored the highest number of votes, did not provide the data or the results with which she won the election.

INEC, while declaring Yunusa-Ari’s action null and void, summoned him and others involved in the action to the electoral umpire’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Star reported that the suspended REC voluntarily reported to the police in Abuja on Tuesday, May 2.

INEC, on Tuesday, April 18, declared Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the gubernatorial poll.

The Star