Suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa Ari, has been granted an administrative bail by Nigeria Police Force (NPF) following his arrest two days ago.
Also, two commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other officials associated with questionable conduct during the Adamawa Supplementary election were granted bail, according to TG news.
They were conditioned to submit their travel passport and were also restricted within Abuja. The restriction is to ensure their availability when needed.
Amid Police Manhunt, Suspended Adamawa REC Writes IGP, Gives Reasons for Declaring Binani Winner
It was gathered that Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali personally interrogated the suspended REC, the national commissioners and others.
It was learnt that a senator stood as a surety for Yunusa-Ari after he was interrogated for three days while in police custody.
Ari reportedly clashed with his colleagues during the police interrogation over allegations that he fled and was incommunicado.
THE BACKGROUND
Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged the incumbent governor of the state, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri in the governorship race that attracted attention across the country. The first election held on March 18 was voided by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), hence a rerun was slated for April 15.
Suspiciously, Ari walked into the collation centre with already prepared results and declared Binani the winner of the rerun poll. This happened when the results of 10 local councils were yet to be collated. There were other issues that raise suspicion about the incident.
Ari fled Adamawa after stirring up chaos. He also refused to honour INEC’s invitation for scrutiny. This, plus public outcry, WikkiTimes believes, forced the commission to recommend his suspension.
On April 20, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension pending the completion of the police investigation.
The commission went further, asking the police to probe Ari. But the suspended commissioner has been on the run, according to reports. However, he was arrested two days ago. A day before he was arrested, Ari said has no regret in declaring Binani the winner of the poll. He also insisted that the female politician won the election.
