Yiaga Africa to INEC: Conclude collation, declare results of Adamawa guber poll

Yiaga Africa has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the collation process and declare the results for the gubernatorial election in Adamawa state. 

The civil society organisation also called for the removal and prosecution of Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Adamawa.

The REC had declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election when results from all the LGAs were yet to be collated.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yiaga Africa said INEC should conclude the collation process based on results announced at the polling units and those uploaded on the IReV portal. 

The CSO said the action of Yunusa-Ari was “irresponsible, criminal and unbecoming of an electoral officer”, saying it portends danger for democracy in Nigeria. 

“INEC should urgently conclude the collation process and declare the official results based on results announced at the polling units and uploaded on the IReV portal,” the statement reads. 

“The President and the Nigerian Senate should initiate removal proceedings against the Adamawa REC in defense of the Constitution, independence of INEC and the overall integrity of the electoral process. 

“Urge the police and INEC to swiftly prosecute the Adamawa REC for gross misconduct, insubordination and fraud. In addition, the attacks on two National Commissioners deployed to oversee the supplementary elections in Adamawa should be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. 

“The Inspector General of Police, Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Director General of the Department of State Services should thoroughly investigate and sanction its officers involved in this criminal subversion of the electoral process.”

Yiaga Africa also called for a “comprehensive independent audit” of the 2023 general election, saying it is “imperative for inspiring public confidence and ensuring accountability for operational lapses, constitutional and electoral legal framework violations, and cases of subversion of the people’s vote”.