BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, has declared that he was ever ready to do whatever the national headquarters of the Commission directs him to do.
This was as he said that there is threat to his life, adding however that in spite of the threat to his life, he will ensure that the electoral commission deliver a free, fair, credible and acceptable election in the state.
Ari, who stated these during an interaction with Journalists in his Bauchi residence on Tuesday, said that only the national headquarters of INEC has the final decision on review of elections in states, adding that as a REC, he is ready to do whatever he is directed to do by the headquarters.
Ari further said; “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”.
Ari said that the election was declared inconclusive in line with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and considering the circumstances that surrounded the conduct of elections at that time.
In his words; “There were a lot of discrepancies in the results sheets from Fufore Local Government Area. There were figures for State Assembly in the governorship election. There was no way we can declare such results”.
Ari explained that there were reports of ballot box snatching by unknown persons, adding that there were three different results from different sources which could not be reconciled, adding however, that no arrest was made by the security agencies.
According to him; “The unknown persons went away with the ballot box as well as the results sheet for the Local Government Area. 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 cannot declare any results because of the discrepancies in the three results brought and we agreed to reconcile them before we can make any declaration.
“I am 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 cannot guarantee my security in Adamawa State.
“We had to pass the night at the Barracks. It was very unfortunate that things have reached such a dimension. On the second day when we reconvened at about 3pm, the atmosphere was not conducive, we were rescued by military personnel,” he said.
Ari also said that as soon as he was convinced that there was a move of compromise by some INEC officials, he swiftly ordered for their replacement thus, assured that he will not spare any official that wants to compromise.
