Adamawa Youths Demand Arrest , Prosecution of Binani, REC Yunusa Ari, Others over Alleged Electoral Crime, Bribery

The group of youths in Adamawa State has demanded the arrest and prosecution of Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, the All progressive Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded Adamawa State elecion.
The group, according to it’s President, Mallam Musa Mohammed noted that it had in the last couple of months called the attention of national, global as well as the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission to the situation in the State.
“We demanded for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner especially over his poor performance and the clear attempt to subvert the popular will of our people. He was caught on tape to have directed an official under him to manipulate the result in Fufore in favour of Senator Aisha Binani of APC.Our fears have been confirmed by the REC’s brazen recklessness when he illegally declared Senator the winner of an election in which she was openly and clearly the loser. The REC’s action was illegal because he was not the official designated to announce the result. Secondly, he made the announcement without details of the result thereby reducing an important election to a mere village square announcement. He obviously did not appreciate the veracity of his action and its impact on the collective wellbeing of the people of Adamawa. We learnt that he, and his co-travellers, allegedly collected a large sum of money to carry out what could be described as a Civilian Coup. We were not surprised especially because his activities since the commencement of the current electoral cycle have fallen far below standard of expected performance of a man of his status and responsibility. That explain why we have been apprehensive. We have also called attention to the desperation of Senator Binani, as well as the danger of allowing her to contest the Gubernatorial election in Adamawa when her company was given the contract to print gubernatorial result sheets for North West States. We called for her disqualification at the time. In spite of our statement, INEC Leadership denied the allegation. In the current situation, it has been alleged that she gave a bribe of N2 Billion to induce the officers to commit the act which is a crime under the Electoral law. Against the background of the above we demand as follow:The conclusion of the electoral process by authorising the Returning Officer to formally declare the winner of the Adamawa State Gubernatorial Election as captured in INEC Server immediately. This is the only way to reduce the tension that is building up in the State. Further delay could lead to violence which could be the start of a national catastrophy and the end of our current democratic governance. Arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the crime including Senator Binani who allegedly gave the bribe. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should immediately commence the immediate investigation of all those involved in the crime, including Senator Binani and subsequently charge them to Court. The EFCC leadership should appreciate that global attention is on them to do the right thing on this matter. It is also a litmus test of the extent to which President Buhari Administration’s anti-corruption policy has become institutionalized.We wish to conclude that we are closely watching the INEC to conclude the Electoral process so as to douse the current tension in Adamawa State and to prevent possible break down of law and order. We have also placed the EFCC under our watch. The EFCC should commence investigation and retrieve every kobo collected by these suspects and charge them to Court. The giver of the bribe should not be spared. This is the only way to restore public confidence in the electoral system, and indeed, the outcome of the 2023 General Election.