The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described the actions of Adamawa State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Ari, during the recently concluded governorship elections as an operation.
This comes as the commission condemned Ari’s actions while defending the character of other RECs in other federation states.
WITHIN NIGERIA learned that the commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, stated that Ari’s actions are distinct from what other RECs of INEC have been doing in other states of the country.
On Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Okoue stated that he understands how RECs in other states have worked so hard to contribute to successful elections.
According to him;
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.
Okoye further explained that the commission had received a report from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the process of prosecuting the controversial Adamawa REC has commenced.
He said;
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.