Whereabouts of suspended Adamawa REC unknown, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that it has no information on the whereabouts of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State, Hudu Ari.

The commission disclosed this after his inaction during the supplementary governorship election in Adamawa.

INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye disclosed this on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

The PUNCH reports announcement of the Adamawa supplementary election generated controversies after Ari announced Binani as the winner of the poll while collation was not yet concluded.

The PUNCH further reports that the electoral umpire summoned Ari to its headquarters in Abuja.

The commission reported Ari’s inaction to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday and his suspension was approved by Buhari, until the completion of an investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the case.

“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,” Okoye said.

Okoye added that it is the responsibility of the police to declare Ari wanted for failing to report to the commission or answer its calls.

“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.

“We wrote to the Inspector General of Police and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. We have received a response from the Inspector General of Police and they have already commenced an investigation.

“My understanding is that the moment the Inspector General of Police concludes the investigation regarding the REC and every other individual who is involved and a prima facie case is established against the REC the file will be made available to the commission and the commission will begin prosecution of the REC,” he said.