The suspended resident electoral commissioner for Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, has not been seen in recent days, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The commission made this information public following his inaction during the special governor’s election in Adamawa.
Festus Okoye, the national commissioner for INEC, revealed this on Friday during an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
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After Ari declared Binani the winner of the vote while collation was still ongoing, the announcement of the Adamawa supplementary election sparked controversy.
There are other reports that Ari was called to the electoral umpire’s office in Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari was informed on Thursday by the commission of Ari’s inaction, and Buhari decided to suspend Ari pending the outcome of an inquiry into the case by the Inspector General of Police.
During the interview, 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.
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.
