The Police have confirmed the arrest of Hudu Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State.
The embattled REC was apprehended by police in Abuja on Tuesday, according to Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi.
The REC was apprehended by police in Abuja on Tuesday, according to Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi said, “Barrister Ari, who was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja on Tuesday 2nd May, 2023, is currently in Police custody and is being grilled to ascertain the motives and motivations behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State.
“In addition, other officials and individuals culpable in the saga are being interrogated by the team.
“The Inspector-General of Police has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution.
“The Inspector-General of Police has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensuring that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice.”
The news comes just hours after Ari stated in a BBC Hausa broadcast that he will surrender to authorities two weeks after going into hiding.
“I will surely turn myself in to the police. Before, there was no summon from the police but now there is one. I will soon come out from hiding,” the embattled REC had stated.
The suspended REC further stated that he has never regretted declaring Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the state’s governorship election in 2023.
Ari sparked outrage after the supplemental election in Adamawa on April 15, 2023, when he declared Binani the winner while the results were still being tallied.
The scenario prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to overturn Ari’s decision and suspend him, while President Muhammad Buhari demanded a thorough inquiry into the electoral commissioner and the security officials who were present when he made the declaration.
INEC then declared the current governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the genuine winner of the drama-filled election.
Security agents had also been directed to arrest and prosecute the beleaguered REC, but Ari’s whereabouts had been unknown for more than two weeks prior to his capture on Tuesday.
