In a replay similar to what happened at the Force Headquarters during the Apo 6 saga, when the detained Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Garki Village, Abuja, Police Division, Abdulsalami Othman disappeared into the thin air, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has claimed that it has no idea of the whereabouts of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Alhaji Hudu Ari, since his infamous action during the supplementary governorship election in the state.
Ari stirred controversy when he announced the supplementary governorship election results in Adamawa State on Sunday while collation was still on-going.
“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,” INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye said on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, on Friday.
Asked why Ari has not been declared wanted for failing to report to the Commission or answer its calls, Okoye passed the buck, saying that is the responsibility of the Nigerian Police.
“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,” he said.
After suspending the REC, INEC reported his case to President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari, who on Thursday approved Ari’s suspension, pending the completion of investigation by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the conduct/actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State.
The INEC National Commissioner said that the Commission had received a preliminary report from the IGP that they have commenced the process of investigating the controversial Adamawa REC.
“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 added.
