The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a directive to the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, to stay away from the state office, as stated in a memo with reference number INEC/SEC/442/V.II, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and sent to Ari on Monday.
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The memo conveys the Commission’s decision for Ari to immediately stay away from the INEC office in Adamawa State until further notice. The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC operations in Adamawa State with immediate effect.
Ari, who served as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the governorship election in Adamawa State, stirred controversy when he declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as ‘Binani’, as the winner of the Saturday polls in the state even before the conclusion of the process.
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This premature declaration led to Ari being invited to Abuja by the electoral umpire on Sunday and the subsequent nullification of the supplementary election. It’s worth noting that the electoral guidelines do not permit the Resident Electoral Commissioner to declare state election results.
