•Adamawa REC who introduced another definition for electoral heist should be brought to justice
Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who superintended the last general election in Adamawa State is on the run. Having taken actions that could have set the state, and by extension the nation, on fire, he fled to escape the anger generated by his unprecedented action.
By provisions of the constitution, the electoral act and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the REC acted ultra vires and illegally by declaring Senator Aishatu Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election in the state. It is obvious that the only person permitted by law to perform the function is the returning officer. He cannot claim ignorance of the law as he is a lawyer and even had the privilege of having conducted the presidential election in the state.
At the time he called the election, the returning officer had 10 local government elections pending and an hour to resume his work. This is brazen affront and impunity of the worst order. He disregarded the national commissioners who were deployed from the commission’s national headquarters, disregarded the process of calling the election that includes announcing results from the remaining local government areas, did not get the necessary forms filled, allowed no objections from the party agents in the hall and simply declared the APC candidate winner offhand.
It is inconceivable that weeks after the affront, Yunusa-Ari has remained in hiding. Nigerian citizens are asking, where is the REC who wrecked the Adamawa poll? His duty was to provide an enabling environment for the returning officer, and possibly guide him on the position of law if his counsel was sought. Everything about the electoral official’s action showed it was premeditated. He ensured that the police commissioner and other security chiefs in the state were on seat when making the declaration, to offer protection from angry politicians.
We agree with all who have said the man must be brought out of hiding to face the law. It is even more annoying that he has chosen to defend himself while a fugitive from law. His defence is hollow, but if he really believes he has a strong case, why fail to turn up in Abuja when summoned by the headquarters? If he gets away with the dizzying height to which he has taken impunity in the land, others will be encouraged to follow suit in the future.
It is surprising that beyond lamentation and open invitation the police force, it seems, has not taken any serious step to get the REC to explain his action. What could have motivated him – bribery or partisanship? How do we get to the root of the matter without getting Mr. Yunusa-Ari to explain his part? Did he have accomplices in the supposed electoral crime? Who were they? How far has the police force gone in its investigations?
It is not enough to replace the police chief who appeared to have provided cover during the alleged malfeasance. He should be thoroughly probed. Even when President Muhammadu Buhari has made a motion of ordering a probe, we are yet to be informed of any. And if any had been instituted, who are the members? Why not make the sitting open? Couldn’t members of the civil society have been incorporated?
President Buhari had promised many times to bequeath a credible poll to the nation as he is about to bow out, but the Adamawa State episode is certainly not the way to go. We expect him to immediately summon heads of all the security agencies on the table when Senator Binani was declared winner of that election and give them a marching order, in order to get to the root of the matter within two weeks. He cannot pass this buck. It’s his duty to ensure that the full details are unearthed and made public before he bows out on May 29.
The role played by the APC candidate who was swift in accepting the victory and, in fact, promptly appeared on television as governor-elect should be investigated, too. No one should be protected, otherwise, rumours will continue to fill the air.
In all this, INEC should be commended for swinging into action promptly to arrest the situation before it degenerated further. Not only was a statement denouncing Yunusa-Ari’s action released the same day, he was ordered to report in Abuja. When he failed, he was suspended and reported to the appointing authority, the President who alone has the power to hire or fire a REC.
This must never happen again. But, if we are not to witness a more dastardly act, all those involved in the shameful act must be brought to book. And swiftly too.