Interpol Summons Suspended Adamawa REC Yunusa Ari

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has summoned Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, over his alleged misconduct during the state’s April 14 supplementary elections.

•Hudu Yunusa-Ari

According to a report, it revealed that the Interpol letter, dated April 27, 2023, instructed Mr Yunusa Ari to appear for interrogation at the National Central Bureau in Abuja, reports Nigerian Tribune.

•Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru

However, the letter did not specify the date for the INEC chief’s appearance. Garba Umar, an assistant inspector-general of police in charge of Interpol, signed the letter.

Mr Yunusa-Ari, who was suspended from his position, made headlines after he announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa governorship polls before collation was completed, which goes against the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He reportedly left Adamawa on a chartered flight after the announcement of the results.

Sources close to Mr Yunusa-Ari claim that he was not on the run, and became a target of powerful interests at INEC and in Adamawa after refusing to compromise during the exercise.

According to a letter obtained exclusively by Peoples Gazette, Mr Yunusa-Ari wrote to the country’s top security agencies alleging that two INEC national commissioners, Baba Bila and Abdullahi Zuru, conspired with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election.

The REC has reportedly written to the police from his hideout, after he was summoned to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on April 17.