It’s INEC matter! No need for FG to intervene in Adamawa gov election, says Lai

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission does not need the interference of the federal government to deal with any of its erring staff.

The minister’s comment is coming on the heels of the “unwholesome behaviour” of the suspended Adamawa resident electoral commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

While the results from the just concluded Adamawa governorship supplementary election were yet to be announced, Yunusa-Ari declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner.

The development triggered protests in the state. Members of the PDP staged a demonstration on Monday, marching through the streets of Yola, the capital of the state.

Speaking on the development after the federal executive council meeting on Wednesday, the Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari did not intervene in the crisis because he does not micromanage any of the government’s institutions.

He said, “I don’t think that this government has ever intervened in the way the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts its elections. So, there’s no need for us to intervene. It was an entirely an INEC matter and INEC handled it.

“The chairman of INEC is in charge of all employees in INEC and he’s handling it. So, what do you want the government to do?”

“You said INEC took certain steps, right, it is in the context of INEC to so do. I’m not aware that there’s a petition. It was not addressed to me. That’s why I said your best bet is probably to ask INEC.

“You see, the President does not micromanage every institution…I think I’m the wrong person you are asking this question.”