The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Malam Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to immediately stay away from the state office until further notice.
INEC gave the directive in a letter dated April 17, 2023, and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The commission, in the letter entitled “Commission’s Directive to Stay Away from INEC, Adamawa State,” also directed the state administrative secretary to take charge of the state office immediately.
The letter read: “I hereby convey the Commission’s decision that you (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.”
“Please accept the assurances of the commission’s warmth.”
Yunusa-Ari purportedly declared the winner for the Adamawa State governorship election on Saturday, while the process of results collation from about local governments was yet to be concluded.
The INEC headquarters, however, declared his action null and void, suspended the result collation process, and directed him and all involved in the action to report to Abuja.
The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, confirmed the letter in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said the REC, who was summoned to INEC headquarters on Sunday, was still expected at the time of filing this news at 3.30 p.m.
“The REC was directed to report today (Monday). “We are still expecting him,” Okoye told NAN.
