INEC bars Adamawa REC from office

The Independent National Electoral Commission has directed the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, to stay away from the state office.

The directive was contained in a memo, INEC/SEC/442/V.II, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, sent to Ari on Monday.

It read, 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 in Adamawa State immediately until further notice.

The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect.

Ari served as the REC for the governorship election in Adamawa State.

However, controversy occurred on Sunday morning when he declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as ‘Binani’ as the winner of Saturday polls in the state even before conclusion of the process.

The PUNCH reports on Sunday that Ari had been invited by the electoral umpire to Abuja, thereby declaring the supplementary election as null and void.

The electoral guidelines do not allow the REC to declare state election results.