We Don’t Know Whereabouts Of Suspended Adamawa REC – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it does not know the whereabouts of the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

Naija News reports that the spokesman of the electoral commission, Festus Okoye, made this known during an appearance on Channel Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.

Okoye stated that the leadership of the Commission summoned the embattled REC to appear at the headquarters but he failed to do so and he also did not pick up his phone when he was called.

He said: “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.”

The INEC spokesman added that the electoral body cannot declare Yunusa-Ari wanted because it is the duty of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to declare him wanted if he is on the run.

Okoye said the Commission had written to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Akali Baba, to investigate the suspended REC for possible prosecution.

He added that INEC also wrote the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, with a view to acquainting President Muhammadu Buhari with the unwholesome activities of the REC and possibly reviewing his appointment.

He said: “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.”

Meanwhile, Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Yunusa-Ari for his role in the controversies surrounding the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election.

The President also ordered the Inspector-General of Police to begin the immediate investigation and prosecution of the suspended REC if found liable.

President Buhari’s directive was contained in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Willie Bassey, on behalf of the SGF.

Furthermore, the President also directed the investigation of all security operatives involved in the controversies surrounding last Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.

If found guilty, he directed that disciplinary actions be taken against them.