CHAIRMAN of the Section of Public Interest and Development (SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, has charged the association to take disciplinary actions against the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Hudu Ari.
Ari, a lawyer, was suspended by INEC for “illegally” declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Aishatu Binani, the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election.
Speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday, April 19, Ubani commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the suspension of the REC.
Ubani urged the NBA to join INEC in sanctioning Ari.
“I haven’t seen the kind of brazenness ever exhibited by any public officer, and I know that the Nigerian Bar Association would take this matter up with the issue of discipline on that lawyer. He didn’t behave very well at all and he never represented Nigeria very well.”
Ubani further commended INEC for stabilising the situation in Adamawa.
“What saved the day was INEC’s quick intervention. As pointed out, the INEC office in Abuja did the right thing by suspending collation and inviting all the necessary officers to come to Abuja to look at what has happened.
“There is a due process that the Act has provided and he (Adamawa REC) must comply with all that and there is nothing anyone can do about it. You have done the wrong thing and I am very happy that INEC has done the right because of the outcry.”
According to Ubani, INEC’s position against letigitimization of illegality was in line with the reaction of Nigerians.
“It is impunity that has actually grown in this country where people are not punished for offences and I am very happy that the institution has corrected itself instantly over this particular thing because of the outcry.
“It has happened when the PDP was there, they were doing everything and getting away with it and asking you to go to court.”
Ubani called for a comprehensive probe of what transpired in Adamawa, adding that those found culpable should be made to face the law.
“There is nothing wrong in carrying out what we call a comprehensive audit, comprehensive investigation of what transpired in Adamawa and to know those behind what has happened,” he said.
“There is nothing wrong in going into a proper investigation of what transpired. Who was behind what? Who authorised him to announce results without any basis?
“Who are these security agents that were with him? Who authorised them to be with him? Why will he brazenly do what he did and think he can get away with it?”
The ICIR reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 18 declared the incumbent governor of Adamawa and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Fintiri, winner of the controversial gubernatorial poll in the state.
Fintiri secured a total of 430,861 votes, surpassing his main opponent, Binani of the APC, who got 398,788 votes.
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