IGP REPLACES ADAMAWA CP OVER GOV VOTE

Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has directed that Mohammed Barde, the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Adamawa State, leave the state immediately.

The IGP also directed that the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa, immediately travel to Adamawa State to oversee election security for the yet-to-be-completed supplemental governorship election.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, told reporters on Tuesday in Abuja that the IGP is committed to a free and fair procedure.

He said, "The IGP has given directive that the commissioner of police on election security in Adamawa State, CP Barde should pull out of Adamawa State and the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa to proceed to Adamawa immediately, to go and supervise election and provide necessary information and ensure that the process is a success."

Ade Jobi also stated that the IGP has yet to receive a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requesting an investigation and prosecution of the commission's beleaguered Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa Ari.

INEC halted collation for the Saturday supplemental governorship election in Adamawa on Sunday after Ari declared Aisha 'Binani' Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

INEC promptly summoned Ari to Abuja and deemed his proclamation to be invalid and a usurpation of the collation and returning officer's duties.

Prior to the suspension of the collation exercise on Saturday night, results from ten LGAs had been announced, with Binani trailing Fintiri.

The collation of results from the remaining ten LGAs was expected to begin by 11 a.m. on Sunday, and Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari declared Binani the winner.

The electoral commission also stated that it will write to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to investigate and punish Ari, but the police have yet to receive the letter.