The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described the action of the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, as an aberration.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of Publicity and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.
OsunDaily News recalls that INEC has suspended Ari over his controversial announcement of the Supplementary governorship election results in Adamawa State while collation was not yet concluded.
According to Okoye, the action of the suspended REC is in isolation from what other Commissioners have been doing in other states of the Federation.
He said: “What he did is just an aberration, I know that we have very fine Resident Electoral Commissioners in various states of the federation and they know the extent of their powers and they have been conforming to the duties assigned to them by the commission.
“So I want to view his behaviours as an isolated event and do not represent what our Resident Electoral Commissioners are all about because I know that some of them work assiduously to ensure that we delivered on our mandate.”
Speaking further, Okoye said the Commission had received a report from the Inspector General of Police and has commenced the process of prosecuting Yunusa-Ari.
He added: “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.”
