The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Hudu Arim, INEC’s resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa, to recuse himself from conducting the April 15 rerun governorship election.

The party made the call at a news conference by the PDP national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja.

Mr Ologunagba said Mr Ari’s continued stay in office despite the party’s outcry over his alleged complicity in the plot to manipulate the outcome of the state governorship election was unacceptable.

“In view of grave allegations and evidence of an audio tape already in the public domain, Ari should recuse himself immediately from superintending and/or conducting the rerun governorship election in Adamawa on April 15,” Mr Ologunagba said.

He said there was no justification for the continued stay of Mr Ari as REC in the state in the face of the grave allegations except for sinister reasons.

“The PDP demands that the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, immediately remove Ari as REC in Adamawa. On our part, the PDP restates that it is firmly on the ground in the state,” the PDP spokesman added. “Our party and candidate, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, are in the clear lead, and we are ready for the rerun election in the 69 polling units already announced by the INEC returning officer.”

Mr Ologunagba called on the people of Adamawa and PDP supporters to remain calm.

INEC fixed April 15 for the rerun election in Adamawa after declaring the governorship elections on March 18 inconclusive.

Mr Fintiri, the incumbent governor and PDP candidate, had scored 421,524 votes against Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressives People (APC) candidate with 390, 275.

If Ms Dahiru is declared winner, she would be Nigeria’s first elected female governor. 

(NAN)