Adamawa REC was suspended since they failed to appear in court; INEC

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State who has been suspended, Hudu Ari, is not known to the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has admitted as much.

The commission made this information public following his behavior during the special governor’s election in Adamawa.

Festus Okoye, the national commissioner for INEC, said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.

There was controversy surrounding the declaration of the Adamawa supplemental election after Ari declared Binani the winner of the vote even though the collation process was not yet complete.

The source also heard that Ari was called to the electoral umpire’s office in Abuja.

The panel informed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), of Ari’s actions on Thursday, and the President authorized Ari’s suspension until the outcome of an inquiry by the Inspector General of Police.

“We don’t know where he is because the commission wrote to him and called him following this specific occurrence. He never answered any of the calls, and he never gave any callers a call back.

“We requested that he appear before the panel on Sunday, but we failed to see him. He was supposed to report on Monday, but he was nowhere to be found. So far, he has not reported, and we are unaware of his location, Okoye added.

“Well, the Nigerian Police are in charge of it. It is their prerogative and discretion to designate someone sought if they believe his presence is crucial to the inquiry and he cannot be located.

“We sent letters to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Inspector General of Police. The Inspector General of Police has responded, and they have already started an investigation.

“From what I understand, the file will be made available to the commission and the commission will start prosecuting the REC as soon as the Inspector General of Police completes the investigation regarding the REC and every other person involved and a prima facie case is established against the REC,” he said.