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Just in: INEC suspends Adamawa’s REC over Adamawa Guber election blunder
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended its Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The action followed the REC’s controversial pronouncement on Sunday after the supplementary election.
Although only Returning Officers have the responsibility of announcing results, Ari declared the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru Binani, the winner.
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In a letter signed by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the embattled commissioner was told to stay away from the office, directing the administrative secretary in the state to take full charge of the Commission’s matters in the state.
“I hereby convey the commission’s decision that you (Barr. 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 of Adamawa State with immediate effect. Please accept the assurances of the commission’s warm regards.
Yunusa-Ari on Saturday purportedly declared winner for Adamawa State governorship election while the process of results collation from about local governments were 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 to in an interview with the News Agency in Abuja.
He said the REC, who was summoned to INEC headquarters on Sunday, was still being expected at the time of filling this news at 3.30pm.