Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday called for an overhaul of the appointment process of Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Governors stated this against the backdrop of the illegal declaration of Aisha Dahiru, also known as Binani, candidate of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the Adamawa State Governorship election by the State REC, Mr Hudu Ari.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Cyril Maduabum, the governors called on the Returning Officer for the Adamawa State Governorship election, Prof Mohammed Mele to immediately conclude the process and declare the result.
The statement read in part,
“There should be a deliberate process of revisiting the appointments of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to weed out corrupt and extremely partisan officials. It is the partisan method of appointment of these officials that led to national disgrace in Adamawa State.
“The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa, is perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 General elections.
“We commend the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.
“The appropriate Returning Officer, Mele Lamido, should immediately conclude the collation and declare the result.
“One of the most important lessons of this election season is that the integrity of INEC personnel is crucial to free, fair, and credible elections as well as the deployment of technology.
“Appropriate sanctions, including prosecution of all those involved, especially the former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa, should be swiftly commenced to serve as an example to others.
“We enjoin all Nigerians to be on alert as we brace up for emerging threats to our democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria.”