The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has ordered the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Adamawa State, Mohammed Barde, to withdraw from the state with immediate effect.

The IGP also subsequently ordered the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Oqua, to immediately proceed to Adamawa State for election security of the yet-to-be-concluded supplementary governorship poll.

Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Abuja, stated that the withdrawal of Barde is with immediate effect, assuring that the IGP is committed to a free and fair process.

This is coming on the heels of the resumption of collation of results for Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in Yola, Adamawa State, amid tight security at the state collation centre as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reconvened.

“The IGP has given a directive that the Commissioner of Police on election security in Adamawa State, CP Barde should pull out of Adamawa State and the Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Etim Equa to proceed to Adamawa immediately, to go and supervise the election and provide the necessary information and ensure that the process is a success.”

Adejobi also said the IGP has yet to receive any letter from INEC seeking the probe and prosecution of its embattled Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari.

Recall that on Sunday, April 16, 2023, INEC suspended collation for the Saturday supplementary governorship election in Adamawa after Ari announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

INEC had in a statement immediately said that the declaration by the Adamawa REC was null, void and of no effect and summoned Ari and other officials to Abuja. The commission said the declaration was a usurpation of the powers of the collation and returning officer.

The electoral umpire also said it will write the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to investigate and possibly prosecute Ari but the police are yet to get the letter.

Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from 10 LGAs had been announced — and Binani was trailing Fintiri.

The collation of results from the remaining 10 LGAs was expected to commence by 11 am on Sunday, and Mele Lamido, the returning officer for the Adamawa governorship election, was not present when Ari announced Binani as the winner of the election.