By Akinwale Kasali
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Friday morning, told a strange story. In a narration that has been described by many as a cock and bull story, INEC said that its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, who triggered confusion and crisis in the State during the Supplementary Poll for the Governorship Election, has disappeared.
Ari had, on Sunday, 16th April, 2023, usurped the function of the Returning Officer, Professor Mohammed Mele, and announced the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aishatu Dahiru Binani, the winner.
At the time of the announcement, collation of votes were still on-going, and incumbent Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, seeking a second term in office, was in a comfortable lead.
An embarrassed INEC quickly disowned Ari, cancelled the result he announced, and declared it null, void and of no consequence.
It also suspended Ari, and invited him to INEC Headquarters, Abuja. Professor Mele on Tuesday, declared Fintiri the winner and returned him as the Governor-elect to serve a second term under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari weighed-in, suspended Ari from Office, and directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to investigate him thoroughly. President Buhari, also, directed the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, to investigate the role their officers who were present in Adamawa played in the shame.
But while Nigerians thought that Ari was, at least, under protective custody, Festus Okoye, INEC’s Federal Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, on Monday, told a shocked Nation that Ari was nowhere to be seen, that he has disappeared into thin air.
What this means is that Ari did not answer to the summons of his Headquarters when he was asked to do so on Sunday, and INEC kept his disappearance to itself till Friday.
Okoye, who spoke on a Channels Television interview programme said:
“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.”
On if the Police will declare Ari wanted, Okoye said:
“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.”
After suspending the REC, INEC reported his case to President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari, who on Thursday approved Ari’s suspension, pending the completion of an investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the conduct/actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State.
“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.”
