The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Ari Yunusa, has got himself involved in another major controversy.
He made a premature declaration of the winner of the supplementary governorship election that took place on Saturday when results were still being expected from 10 LGAs.
Hudu Ari named the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Sen Aishatu Ahmed Binani as the winner of the election at about 9.30 am Sunday, less than two hours before the scheduled time of resumption of collation.
Questions were being asked following Ari’s declaration as to his authority to declare results when he is not the chief collation officer.
This would be the second time in the governorship election in Adamawa State when Hudu Ari would be involved in a controversy.
In the course of the main election of March 18, an audio had leaked in which he allegedly asked one of his subordinates to rig the election for the same Binani, an allegation which he never denied.
Many asked, Sunday afternoon why Ari and whoever put him up to the games should expect the declaration of Binani to hold water, because, as in the main election, PDP’s Ahmadu Fintiri is in the lead in the results of the supplementary election declared so far.
The state agent of PDP, Dr Idi Hong, described Ari’s action as the most ridiculous comedy of the year.
Idi Hong, a former Minister of State for Health, told newsmen at the collation centre in Yola that if Ari’s declaration stands, then he (Idi Hong) will, at the same collation centre, seize the microphone and declare himself the president-elect of Nigeria.
