The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State, Hudu Ari is no where to be found.
The electoral commission raised alarm that the REC’s whereabout is unknown as he disappeared without any trace.
This was revealed by the INEC’s National Commissioner, Festus Okoye while granting a television interview on Friday April 21.
Okoye said: “We don’t know where he is because, after this particular incident, the Commission wrote him and also called him on the phone. He never returned any of the calls, he never answered any of the calls.
“We asked him to report to the Commission on Sunday we didn’t see him, we asked him to report on Monday we didn’t see him. So up till this moment, he has not reported and we don’t know his whereabouts.”
When asked what would be next line action to produce the suspended REC, Okoye said that would be the work of the police.
He said: “Well, that is the responsibility of the Nigerian police. If they feel that his presence is absolutely needed during the investigation and he is nowhere to be found, it is their prerogative and discretion to declare him wanted.”
The Informant247 recalls that the Adamawa State REC, on Sunday April 16, 2023 declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani the winner of the election even while collation of results was still ongoing.
The headquarters of the electoral commission took a quick step on the critical electoral issue as it suspended the REC and postponed the announcement of the results indefinitely.
INEC on Tuesday April 18, 2023 said it would write the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman to immediately investigate and possibly prosecute the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC for Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
INEC said it will alert the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha to bring the unacceptable act of the REC to the awareness of concerned appointing authority for due action.
The famous human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has called for the punishment of Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
The respected legal luminary said there are serious punishments for election-related offences.
He praised INEC for taking quick action against the REC, reaffirming that holistic actions need be taken on the issue to prevent its reoccurrence.
He said: “The Nigerian Bar Association has to come in, the NBA has to write a petition, to the legal practitioner disciplinary committee for immediate sanction to serve as a lesson because he has brought the legal profession into disrepute.”
The incumbent Governor of the State, Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party PDP was declared the winner of the state governorship election by INEC.
He defeated thirteen other guber candidates in the state to retain his position as Governor.