The Police has confirmed the arrest of Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who preemptively announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as winner of the gubernatorial elections during the recently concluded supplementary elections in Adamawa State.
His action was disowned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, after which the legally recognised Returning Officer, Prof. Umar Kele, announced incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as winner of the contentious vote.
Tension rose in Adamawa, leading to violence and attack on an INEC commissioner from Abuja, and a senior official of the Department of State Services (DSS).
INEC called for the arrest and investigation of Ari, and Force Police spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, confirmed his arrest and others helping out with investigations.
No word has been heard yet from the Police, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the investigation ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari on the heads of these security agencies in Adamawa who joined Ari as he to carried out his illegal act.
Recall that the Police quickly withdrew its commissioner in that state before the Presidential directive.
Said the Police statement on Tuesday evening: “Barrister Ari, who was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja on Tuesday 2nd May, 2023, is currently in Police custody and is being grilled to ascertain the motives and motivations behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State. In addition, other officials and individuals culpable in the saga are being interrogated by the team.
“The Inspector-General of Police has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution. The Inspector-General of Police has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensuring that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice.”
Also, no word has come from the Police on a security detail of the state Governor and others alleged to have been complicit in the attack on the INEC and DSS senior official from Abuja.
Speculations were rife that a huge financial inducement facilitated the electoral charade in Adamawa, but Binani, who was accused of financing it to the tune of N2 billion, has since denied it.