The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it is still unaware of the whereabouts of its suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Yunusa Hudu Ari. Last Saturday, Ari caused a major controversy when he declared Aisha Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa supplementary governorship election.
Ari declared Binani the winner of the supplementary election while INEC was yet to conclude the collation of results. However, INEC countered Ari’s declaration and announced Ahmadu Fintri as the winner of the election after counting of results.
INEC’s spokesman, Festus Okoye, stated that Ari had not picked up his call since the incident occurred. Appearing on Channels Television, Okoye said: “We don’t know where he is because, after this particular incident, the Commission wrote him and also called him on the phone. He never returned any of the calls; he never answered any of the calls. We asked him to report to the Commission on Sunday, but we didn’t see him, we asked him to report on Monday, and we didn’t see him. So up till this moment, he has not reported and we don’t know his whereabouts.”
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The actions of the suspended REC have sparked controversy, with many people questioning the credibility of the electoral process. The APC had rejected the results of the Adamawa supplementary governorship election, citing widespread irregularities.
The party had also called for the removal of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, accusing him of bias and compromising the integrity of the election. However, INEC maintained that the election was free and fair and that there were no irregularities.
The controversy surrounding the Adamawa supplementary governorship election has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. Many people are calling for electoral reforms to address the issues of vote rigging and irregularities that have plagued the electoral system in the country.
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The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has assured Nigerians that the Commission is committed to conducting free and fair elections in the country. He stated that INEC is working tirelessly to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and credible, adding that the Commission is committed to upholding the tenets of democracy.
Yakubu also called on political parties to play by the rules and respect the outcome of the elections. He urged politicians to put the interest of the country first and to avoid actions that could undermine the peace and stability of the nation.
The INEC Chairman further reiterated the Commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections. He stated that the Commission will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that the electoral process is credible and transparent.
The controversy surrounding the Adamawa supplementary governorship election is a reminder of the need for electoral reforms in Nigeria. The electoral system needs to be overhauled to address the issues of vote rigging and irregularities that have undermined the credibility of the electoral process in the country.
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The government must take urgent steps to reform the electoral system to ensure that the will of the people prevails in all elections. The political parties also have a role to play in ensuring that the electoral process is transparent and credible. They must respect the outcome of elections and avoid actions that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
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In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Adamawa supplementary governorship election highlights the need for urgent electoral reforms in Nigeria. The government, the INEC, and political parties must work together to address the issues of vote rigging and irregularities that have plagued the electoral system in the country. It is only through electoral reforms that the country can ensure that the will of the people prevails in all elections and that democracy is strengthened in Nigeria.
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