PDP Charges IGP To Arrest, Prosecute Former Adamawa REC, Ari

Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to comply with the court order to arrest and produce Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, a former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in court, for prosecution.

According to the party, the delay in the prompt and diligent prosecution of Ari for his alleged criminal conduct during the governorship election in Adamawa State in 2023 constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy and the rule of law.

Debo Ologungaba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, stated at a press conference on Friday that Ari had brazenly attempted to subvert the nation’s constitutional democratic rule by trying to install an illegal government in Adamawa State in violation of Section 1(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He also recounted that Ari, on Sunday, April 16, 2023, attempted to override the will of the people of Adamawa State in the Saturday, April 15, 2023, election by illegally declaring the candidate of the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner while the collation of results was ongoing.

The National Publicity Secretary alleged that Ari’s action amounted to a “civilian coup” that tried to undermine the nation’s sovereignty, triggered a serious crisis in Adamawa State and threatened national peace and security.

According to the party’s spokesman, Ari has been on the run, since his removal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the declaration of Governor Ahmed Fintiri at the end of the collation as the lawful and duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.

He said, “Nigerians are invited to note that the High Court of Justice of Adamawa State, No. 9, Yola Division, has issued a Warrant of Arrest of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari dated May 21, 2024, wherein it ordered the Inspector General of Police to apprehend and produce Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to appear before it to answer to the charges preferred against him.”

He added that the said order of court was received at the Office of the Inspector General of Police on May 23, 2024, stressing that the delay in the prompt and diligent prosecution of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari for his alleged criminal conduct constitutes a clear and present danger to our Democracy and the Rule of Law that nobody is above the law.

The party’s spokesman noted that the failure of the Nigerian police so far to apprehend and bring Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to justice is capable of creating a bad precedence and encourage other public officers to act with impunity, behaving as if there are no consequences for acts contrary to law and their Oath of Office.

The PDP, therefore, charged the Inspector General of Police to, in compliance with the Order of Court, immediately fish out, arrest and bring Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari before the Court for prosecution.

He said that there are allegations and apprehensions in the public space that Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari has perfected plans to escape from the country and evade trial, saying that the PDP insists that Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari must be made to face the full wrath of the law for his assault against our democracy.