Atedo Peterside, president of the Anap Foundation, has
weighed in on the controversy trailing the Adamawa state governorship election.
Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa resident electoral
commissioner, had caused a ruckus by declaring Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate
of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election while
results collation was still ongoing.
According to the Electoral Act, the returning officer for
the governorship election is the official empowered to declare a winner.
Speaking in a chat with Arise TV on Monday, Peterside said
the action of the REC is a representation of “impunity” by the leadership of
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Although INEC has scrapped the declaration made by the REC,
the development has continued to elicit criticism from stakeholders across the
country.
Adding his voice to the fray, Peterside described the
situation in Adamawa as “embarrassing” but added that the punishment for the
REC must also be extended to INEC workers on duty during the February 25
presidential election.
“If you have gone to the INEC IREV to see what happened in
the presidential election in some states, there was impunity there,” the ANAP
Foundation founder.
“And there is
impunity here. We have to get serious in this country about whether to tackle
all issues of impunity or just tackle them in Adamawa state. What is the
difference?
“I agree that what happened in Adamawa was particularly
embarrassing, but perhaps he took a cue from those at the centre, who handled
the presidential elections.
“In some states, they refused to upload the results, why
would states be having elections in different manners? We have to go back and
hold people accountable. everybody should be held accountable, not just in
Adamawa.”
On Monday, INEC directed Yunisa-Ari to “stay away” from the
commission’s office in the state.
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