Adamawa Guber Poll: PDP Asks IGP To Arrest Ex-REC Yunusa Ari Now For Prosecution
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declared that the delay in the prompt and diligent prosecution of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, the sacked former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa State for his alleged criminal conduct constitutes a clear and present danger to the nation’s Democracy and the Rule of Law that nobody is above the law.
The opposition Party specifically said that the High Court of Justice of Adamawa State, No. 9, Yola Division issued a Warrant of Arrest of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari dated May 21, 2024, wherein it ordered the Inspector General of Police to apprehend and produce Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to appear before it to answer to the charges preferred against him.
The PDP therefore demanded for the arrest of Yunusa Ari, the by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), in obedience to an Order of a High Court of Adamawa State which was received at the Office of the Inspector General of Police on May 23, 2024.
It said that Yunusa Ari brazenly attempted to subvert the nation’s constitutional democratic rule by trying to install an illegal government in Adamawa State in violation of Section 1(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
These were stated at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, June 6, 2024 by Hon Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP who said that Hudu Yunusa Ari on Sunday April 16, 2023 recklessly attempted to override the Will of the people of Adamawa State in the Saturday April 15, 2023 election by illegally declaring the candidate of the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner while collation of results was on-going.
The PDP said that for emphasis, Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides; “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.
It particularly said that the action of Hudu Yunusa Ari amounted to a “civilian coup” which tried to undermined the nation’s sovereignty, triggered serious crisis in Adamawa State and threatened national peace and security.
It said that Hudu Yunusa Ari has been on the run since after his removal by the INEC and the declaration of Governor Ahmed Fintiri at the end of collation as the lawful and duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.
According to Ologunagba; “However, time they say, does not run against the State in criminal matters. Such subversive conduct cannot go unpunished and our Party is determined to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
“The failure of the Nigerian police so far to apprehend and bring Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to justice is capable of creating a bad precedence and encourage other public officers to act with impunity, behaving as if there are no consequences for acts contrary to law and their Oath of Office,” it said.
The PDP therefore charged the Inspector General of Police to, in compliance with the Order of Court, immediately fish out, arrest and bring Hudu Yunusa Ari before the Court for prosecution.
The PDP said that this was especially as there are allegations and apprehension in the public space that Yunusa Ari has perfected plans to escape from the country and evade trial, stressing that Ari must be made to face the full wrath of the law for his assault against our democracy.
