Suspended Adamawa REC’s whereabouts unknown – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no information on the whereabouts of Hudu Yunusa Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State.

Yari had illegally declared Aishatu Dahiru, alias Binani, governorship candidate of the APC as winner of the state election, when in fact, the incumbent governor, and the eventual winner, Umaru Fintri, was leading the race.

Since the declaration, there’s been calls for his prosecution.

But INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye disclosed on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, that he is nowhere to be found.

“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,” Okoye said.

“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,” he said.