Adamawa Supplementary: Political Parties Pass Vote Of Confidence On REC Hudu Ari 

… Say He Must Complete His Assignment In Spite Of Threat To Life…

…Those speaking for IPAC in Adamawa State have not consulted us as a coalition of opposition political parties – Representatives

…It is now apparent that anti-INEC group in Adamawa, cocooned in IPAC platform, has taken a side with the PDP’s, demand for the removal of the REC, whose life is threatened for refusing to submit to undemocratic excesses, executive tyranny to consider doctored results announced under duress by a returning officer at a police station in Fufore rather than at collation centre; an exercise in futility…

…BVAS bypassed, ballot box snatched, ballot papers stuffed, over voting, results swapping, collation, result sheet confiscated, destroyed, fictitious result doctored and made to be announced under duress, INEC officials lynched and REC’s life threatened for failing to submit to irregularities. The composite of all define election violence in Adamawa state that Hudu Ari needs our support and military protection beyond the police that could not guarantee his security, while discharging his duty without fear or favour, faithfully with fairness…

…As REC, I don’t belong to any political party, I don’t have a soft spot for any of the candidates, they are all the same to me. I have no reason to be biased against any of the candidates or political party – REC Ari

…I’m the Chairman of the Inter Agencies Committee of Elections Security while the Commissioner of Police is the Co-chair, he insisted that we must declare the result because if we did not do that, he would not guarantee my security in Adamawa State. I had a discussion with the Chief Collation and Returning Officer, the VC of University of Maiduguri, Prof Mohammmed Mele. I told him that we could not declare any result because of the discrepancies in the three results brought and we agreed to reconcile them before making any declaration. There were a lot of discrepancies in the results sheets from Fufore local government area. There were figures for the state assembly in the governorship election. There was no way we could declare such results…

…It isn’t the REC but the compromised INEC officials that IPAC should demand for their disengagement in the election exercise, the same action the REC did, “as soon as I was convinced that there was a move of compromise by some INEC officials, I swiftly ordered for their replacement. I would not spare any official ready to compromise the assignment entrusted to him”, he said…

…Why doesn’t the PDP governorship candidate, who is the sitting governor, want the results reviewed by INEC using IREV? Is it Because Ari could not do justice or it is the fear that what he has publicly observed as unacceptable in election terms, could be authenticated?…

The March 18th governorship election in Adamawa state has received widespread criticism following allegations of irregularities occasioned by security lapses, compromise by some INEC officials, results swapping, doctoring and declaration under duress among other constraints that resulted in the declaration of the election as inconclusive. Hudu Ari, the REC whose, security was guaranteed by the uncompromising military, in God’s name, raised an alarm over continued threats to his life should he continue coordinating the supplementary election, while responding to newsmen in Bauchi, where he disclosed a disgusting, opened election malpractices that he would not condone. It was based on his boldness that IPAC held another press conference and like Fintiri with his supporter groups, demanded the removal of Ari as REC, perhaps to be replaced by one willing to compromise in the game of shortchanging the most credible, victory worthy and success assured candidate ahead of the April 15 governorship supplementary election in Adamawa – Opposition political parties

The Periscope Global

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Adamawa State Chapter, comprised of 37 political parties, have passed a vote of confidence on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Adamawa State, Barr Hudu Haruna Ari, “whom we are not only proud of but are also convinced that he will conduct the supplementary governorship election slated for April 15, 2023, without fear or favour in God’s name”.

In a press conference Friday, the Conference led by Comrade Jafaru Abba Girei said, “we hold the view that calling for the removal of the REC whose life is threatened for refusing to submit to undemocratic excesses, executive tyranny to consider doctored results announced under duress by a returning officer who was bundled like a criminal at a police station in Fufore rather than at collation centre as infringement of his human right, professional calling, abuse of due process and disrespect to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the rule of law. It is most unfortunate.

“The REC who would not sell his conscience to compromise his duty in building a democratic society of our positive dreams, in spite of the threat to life, has boldly identified undeniable lapses associated with the March 18, governorship election in Adamawa state that had received widespread criticism following allegations of irregularities occasioned by security lapses, compromise by some INEC officials, results swapping, doctoring and declaration of results under duress among other constraints that resulted in the declaration of the election as inconclusive.

“The incorruptible Resident Electoral Commissioner, in our opinion, remains a hero of democracy who deserves a national honour when he must have successfully completed his assignment with the conduct of supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State that he assured would be credible and acceptable.

“In this regard, while we commend the efforts of the uncompromising military that guaranteed the security of the life of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, we are calling on the electorate to join the popular call in condemning election violence, intimidation and threat to Barr Hudu Ari, the REC’s life to be able to complete the supplementary election slated for April 15, 2023”.

The conference by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, seemed to be in response to the press conference by the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Adamawa State, led by Hon Bello Babajo, calling on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.