The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it has no knowledge of the location of the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, after his infamous behavior during the state’s supplemental governorship election.
Ari sparked outrage when he declared the supplemental governorship election results in Adamawa State on Sunday, despite the fact that collation had not yet been completed.
“We don’t know where he is because the Commission wrote him and called him after this particular incident.” He never returned any calls, and he never answered any 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.
When asked if he believes Ari will be proclaimed sought for failing to report to the Commission or respond to its calls, Okoye stated that the Nigerian Police is in charge of that.
“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 presented his case to President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari, who ordered Ari’s suspension on Thursday, pending the completion of an investigation by the Inspector General of Police into the REC’s conduct/actions during the Adamawa State Supplementary Election.
According to the INEC National Commissioner, the Commission has received a report from the Inspector General of Police and has begun the process of prosecuting the contentious 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.
