Adamawa govt to prosecute those behind Binani’s illegal declaration

The Adamawa State Government has requested the state police command to initiate an investigation into the crisis that engulfed the state following the illegal declaration of the All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate, Aishatu Dahiru popularly called Binani in the supplementary governorship election held on April 15.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, signalling, the intent of the state government to prosecute all those behind the illegal declaration of Governorship candidate APC’s Binani, the state government said the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice for the state has written the Commissioner of Police to immediately commence investigations for possible prosecution of all those found culpable, in the saga that played out in the polls.

Recall that controversy ensued when the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, in the early hours of April 16, sneaked into the state governorship collation centre to declare Binani the winner of the governorship poll after the supplementary poll held in the state on April 15.

But on April 19, the INEC Returning Officer for the election in the state, Muhammed Melee, declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, the winner of the governorship election.

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But on Thursday, the Adamawa State government in a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Adamawa state governor, Humwashi Wonosikou, said the attorney general and commissioner of Justice Afraimu Jingi, has mandated the police to start investigations for possible prosecution of all those behind the botched ‘civilian coup’.

The letter obtained by our reporter said, “The State Government in a letter to the State Police Command signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Afraimu Jingi wants the Police to prosecute for possible prosecution of all those found culpable in the saga and role played by each.

The State Government has pledged its support to the state police command towards ensuring the logical conclusion of the investigation.

The State Government is worried that Hudu’s action threatened the hard-earned peace that the present administration has built in the last four years.”

The statement notes that the declaration by Hudu while collation was still ongoing, of the candidate of APC as the winner of the governorship elections resulted in a breach of the peace in the state.