Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has directed some security chiefs in the country to investigate the role of their officers in aiding and abetting the conduct/actions of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The chiefs are Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State, was suspended by Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed also known as Aishatu Binani as the elected Adamawa State governor.
Buhari on Thursday approved his immediate suspension pending the completion of investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the conducts and actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State.
The President who returned from lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia also ordered that if found culpable, appropriate disciplinary actions, must be meted out to the erring officers.
The President’s orders were contained in a statement by Willie Bassey, Director of Information for the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Recall that INEC had reversed the purported declaration few hours later.
The Commission had said the action of the REC was a move to usurp the power of the Returning Officer and had declared the declaration null, void and of no effect.
Ahmadu Finitiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was later declared the winner of the election.
Binani also dismissed reports that she had offered the sum of N2 billion as bribe to an official to be declared winner of the election.
Afterwards, INEC had written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali to investigate Ari for possible prosecution and Alkali on his part had ordered for the replacement of the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Adamawa State, Mohammed Barde.
