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Binani won Adamawa gov poll, detained REC insists

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Hudu Yunusa-Ari

Binani won poll, detained controversial Adawama REC insists

The police, on Tuesday, began grilling the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, over alleged impropriety during the April 15 supplementary governorship poll in Adamawa State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed to our correspondent that Yunusa-Ari and other suspects were in police custody and were being grilled.

This was as the suspended Adamawa REC said, in an interview with BBC Hausa, that he had no regrets about announcing the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as the winner of the 2023 governorship election Adamawa State.

The PUNCH reports that Yunusa-Ari had stirred controversy after declaring  Binani when the collation of results was yet to be completed.

This was followed by an announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, proclaiming the declaration by the REC as null and void, while Yunusa-Ari was summoned to INEC headquarters in Abuja, but failed to honour the summons.

The electoral umpire further wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, asking the police to investigate, and if found culpable, prosecute Yunusa-Ari for alleged electoral infractions.

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Following the receipt of the letter the IG subsequently asked an investigative team to work in collaboration with INEC on the matter, as the electoral umpire revealed that it didn’t know the whereabouts of the suspended Adamawa REC.

Confirming the arrest of Yunusa-Ari and other suspects on Tuesday, the Force spokesman, Adejobi, said, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby confirms the arrest of Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State REC, who was alleged to have announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress winner of the gubernatorial election during the recently concluded supplementary elections following calls for his arrest and investigation by the INEC on the basis of alleged impropriety in the course of supplementary gubernatorial polls in the state.

“Barrister Yunusa-Ari, who was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, is currently in police custody and he’s being grilled to ascertain the motives and motivations behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State.

“In addition, other officials and individuals culpable in the saga are being interrogated by the team.

“The Inspector-General of Police has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution.

“The IG has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensuring that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice.”

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Tuesday prior to his arrest, Yunusa-Ari maintained that he acted in accordance with relevant laws in declaring the APC candidate, Binani, as the governor-elect of Adamawa state before the declaration was overturned by the national headquarters of the electoral empire in Abuja.

He said, “I don’t have the papers with me here but both in the main and supplementary elections, Binani scored 428,173 while Fintiri got 422,303 votes.

“I have no regrets at all as I acted under the law; it is the law that warranted what I did and it shall absolve me.”

On accusations of receiving N2bn to pull off the electoral stunt, Ari told BBC Hausa that, “I never demanded any gratification from either of Binani or Fintiri. None of the duo sent anything to me; if they had done so, by now they will be demanding their money back.”

Binani won poll, detained controversial Adawama REC insists

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JUST IN: Gov Ganduje to hand over power to Gov Elect Abba Kabir today

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Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf

JUST IN: Gov Ganduje to hand over power to Gov Elect Abba Kabir today

The outgoing governor of Kano state, Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will perform the official handing over of the affairs of the state to the governor-elect, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf.

A statement by the outgoing commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba stated that the event is billed for 9:00pm on Sunday, May 28 at the Government House, Kano.

He said already, the Kano state Government Transition Committee has communicated the development to the Transition Committee of the governor-elect.

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Malam Garba pointed out that the two committees have met within the week during which a handing over document was presented to to the governor-elect committee and also worked out a harmonised agenda on the handing over ceremony.

The commissioner explained that Governor Ganduje would shortly after the event depart for Abuja as head of Kano delegation to the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, May 29.

He said the governor’s departure was also necessitated to beat the deadline for the closure of Nnamdi Azikwe Internation Airport, Abuja for the inauguration ceremony.

The statement called on people to continue to pray for peace and development in the state.

JUST IN: Gov Ganduje to hand over power to Gov Elect Abba Kabir today

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We have no Islamisation agenda, I’m child of necessity, says Shettima

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We have no Islamisation agenda, I’m child of necessity, says Shettima

Vice-President-elect, Kashim Shettima, has dismissed insinuations that the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu plans to Islamise Nigeria.

Indeed, he described himself as a child of necessity, adding that his aides are mostly Christians.

Shettima, who spoke on Saturday at the inauguration lecture in Abuja, said Tinubu, the president-elect, who has not Islamised his family could not possibly do so to the country.

In the build-up to the February elections, the issue of religion generated heated reactions and controversy after Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, picked another Muslim – Shettima from the North-East – as his running mate.

Shettima said he deliberately picked an Igbo man, who is a Catholic, as his chief security officer and a northern Christian as his aide de camp for the purpose of togetherness.

‘I was a child of necessity, there is no Islamisation agenda. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim who is married to a Christian, not only a Christian but a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God,” he said.

“Someone who has not Islamised his family, people are alluding that he has the intention to Islamise the nation.

“Politics is about perception. As we begin the formation of a new administration, I deliberately picked an Igbo man, a Catholic, to be my chief security officer.

“For the purpose of inclusivity and togetherness, again I deliberately picked a northern Christian to be my ADC. So the so-called founder of Boko Haram is going to be protected by….”

Speaking further, the former Borno governor said the Tinubu’s administration understands the seriousness of the work ahead, adding they were ready to serve Nigerians.

“We are to serve. We are to listen. We are here to be held accountable. We are not sent on an evangelical mission. Therefore, like every mortal, we may stumble here and there. None of these mistakes could be intentional,” he added.

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Appeal court suspends judgement nullifying election of Abia gov-elect Otti

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Appeal court suspends judgement nullifying election of Abia gov-elect Otti

The Court of Appeal in Kano on Saturday suspended the judgment of a Federal High Court that invalidated the primaries that produced Alex Otti and other Labour Party candidates in Abia State.

The planned inauguration of Otti as elected governor of Abia State on Monday can go on.

The court presided over by Justice Mbaba further granted the application of Otti to appeal as an interested party while suspending the judgment of the Federal High Court pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The Appeal Court order was made in respect of the motion for leave filed by the Abia governor-elect to appeal as an interested party against the judgment of the Kano Division of Federal High Court delivered on 18th May 2023 in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/107/2023.

Similarly, the Appellate Court granted an order for stay and suspension of the judgment of the lower court delivered by Justice Yunusa J.

Otti had in his response to his purported sack last week accused the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State of masterminding the judgement, an allegation the party denied.

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