The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Inspector General of Police to immediately comply with a Court order for the arrest and presentation of former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, for prosecution.

The party said 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.

The national publicity secretary of PDP, Hon Debo Ologungaba, at a press conference, recalled that Ari had “brazenly attempted to subvert our 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 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 winner while collation of results was on-going.”

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

The PDP spokesman said 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 collation as the lawful and duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.