The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
said that it has no idea of the whereabouts of the suspended Resident Electoral
Commissioner of Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, since his infamous action during the
supplementary governorship election in the state.
Ari stirred controversy when he announced the supplementary
governorship election results in Adamawa State on Sunday while collation was
not yet concluded.
“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,” INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.
Asked if he thinks Ari will be declared wanted for failing
to report to the Commission or answer its calls, Okoye said that is the
responsibility of the Nigerian Police.
“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,” he said.
After suspending the REC, INEC reported his case to
President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari, who on Thursday approved Ari’s
suspension, pending the completion of an investigation by the Inspector General
of Police on the conduct/actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in
Adamawa State.
The INEC National Commissioner said that the Commission had
received a report from the Inspector General of Police and has commenced the
process of prosecuting the controversial Adamawa REC.
“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 added.
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