Adamawa Electoral Commissioner who announced Binani as guber election winner, stripped, beaten to stupor

A National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (name withheld) has been stripped by unknown persons in Adamawa State.

In a video, the elderly man was seen being interrogated by some men.

“Tell us the truth and we will spare your life,” one of the men said in a commanding tone.

Another person ordered the elderly man to “put on your trouser”, to which the electoral official shook his head and mumbled some inaudible words.

“‘We will help you if you tell us the truth,” another interrogator said. They communicated in Hausa and rarely spoke English.

A background voice was heard saying, “This is not the INEC REC. He is a national officer.”

SP Suleiman Nguroje, Police Public Relations Officer, neither responded to calls or messages sent to him on the development.

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INEC had earlier raised the alarm that its national commissioners were harassed.

In a statement, Barr Festus Okoye, a spokesman for the commission, called on the security agencies to provide security for the electoral officials.

“The commission is deeply disturbed by the harassment of our two National Commissioners deployed to the State to ensure a peaceful and credible supplementary election.”

“The two national commissioners, the Returning Officer and other staff of the commission must be allowed to perform their duties without let or hindrance.

“The commission would not condone any act of lawlessness or brigandage targeted at its officials or the process.”

Mr. Hudu Ari, the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) for Adamawa State, had declared Senator Aisha Dahiru, aka Binani, as winner of the election under controversial circumstances.

Before his declaration, Prof Mele Mohammed, the returning officer, had declared results of 10 of the 20 Local Government Areas where supplementary elections took place.