Police IG Orders Immediate Withdrawal Of Mohammed Barde, CP On Election Duty, In Adamawa

Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police Alkali has ordered that the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Adamawa State, Mohammed Barde be withdrawn from the state with immediate effect.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa, the IGP also ordered that the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa to immediately proceed to Adamawa State for election security of the yet-to-be-concluded supplementary governorship poll.

The statement further stated that the IGP is committed to a free and fair process.

Adejobi also said the IGP is yet to receive any letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the probe and prosecution of its embattled Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa Ari.

Meanwhile, collation of results have resumed in the state capital.

INEC had on Sunday suspended collation for the Saturday supplementary governorship election in Adamawa after Ari announced Aisha Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

INEC had immediately summoned Ari to Abuja and declared his announcement an invalid declaration and a usurpation of the powers of the collation and returning officer.

The electoral umpire also said he will write the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to probe and prosecute Ari but the police is yet to get the letter.

Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from 10 LGAs had been announced — and Binani was trailing Fintiri.

The collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs was expected to commence by 11am on Sunday, and Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.

According to the constitution, Lamido is the rightful official empowered to declare the winner of the election.