Hudu Ari And INEC’s Integrity -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The Adamawa state Resident Electorate commissioner, Barr. Hudu Ari had stirred the honet’s nest during the concluded supplementary election conducted on 15 April. Barr. Ari controversially declared Aisha Dahiru Binani of APC as the winner of the election when collation of the results was ongoing. It took the intervention of Independent National Electorate Commission (INEC) headquarters, Abuja, to douse the tension that would have snowballed to political crises in Adamawa state and painted the Commission in bad light. The National headquarters described Ari’s action as null and void and usurpation of returning officer duties. It later invited the REC to Abuja and subsequently ordered him to stay away from Adamawa state supplementary election. Since Ari’s shame or false declaration of the result, many political pundits have continued to question the rationale behind his actions. The millions questions begging for answer are: Did Ari receive an order from the above to declare are Binani? Is he financially induced to make such unconstitutional or illegal declaration? Interestingly, INEC calls for Ari’s investigation will reveal the truth of the matter sooner than later.

With the various reforms INEC is undergoing in order to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the country, the likes of Ari are living in a tales moon to contemplate tempering with elections result. Hudu Ari who is a trained lawyer must have known the electorate laws and what his actions constituted for. Barr. Ari’s declaration joke has come at a time when opposition parties expressed doubt or reject the outcome of the last presidential election in which Bola Ahmed Tinubu, won. Both Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Peter Obi of LP who objected the result have taken their case to election tribunal. Little wonder, the leadership of the electorate umpire swiftly counter Ari rude behavior in other to save its integrity and unbiased position. The act of shame and unprofessionalism displayed by the former Adamawa REC should serve as a wake up call to INEC to continue monitor its officers. Some of its officers can compromise the system in anticipation of financial rewards.

The appointment of resident electorate commissioners ( RECs) rest on the shoulder of Mr president. The next  president should appoint commissioners who are people of timber and caliber without questionable character. There is the need to flush out the likes of ARI in INEC. Since 2015, the conduct of election has changed in the country. Whoever wants to drag us back to old INEC in which people mandates are sold to highest bidder should not have place in present Commission. Election is a serious business in which people with dubious character should not be allowed to supervise. The action of barrister Ari has nearly eroded the gains recorded by INEC in the last election. Let us have a credible electorate umpire without the likes of Ari.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.