The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari to stay away from all its activities and the election in the state.
In a letter to Ari on 17th April, INEC’s Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony directed the Administrative Secretary in Adamawa State to take full charge of its activities in the state with immediate effect.
“I hereby convey the commission’s decision that you (Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State should stay away from the commission’s office immediately until further notice.
“The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State, with immediate effect,” the letter noted.
Ari stirred controversy on Sunday morning when he announced the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Dahiru (well known as Binani) as the winner of the polls, a move that was not within his constitutional authority.
Asides from the announcement being an usurpation of the Returning Officer’s responsibility, Ari also announced the results of an election whose collation process had not been concluded, which caused tension within the state, and stirred great debate across the nation and beyond.
The development sparked outrage in the state and across the country, with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri accusing the REC of working for a gang.
INEC immediately declared Ari’s announcement “null, void and of no effect”.
Consequently, INEC suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election and invited the REC, the Returning Officer and all officials involved to report back to its headquarters in Abuja.
