ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State.
Yunusa-Ari was suspended for illegally declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Aisha Binani winner of Saturday’s guber re-run in the State.
INEC had on Sunday suspended the collation of results in Adamawa’s rerun election after the state’s resident electoral commissioner wrongly declared a winner.
Ari caused nationwide confusion when he declared Mrs. Dahiru as Adamawa’s Governor-elect on Sunday morning without disclosing official figures in line with the electoral process.
“The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of a winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.
“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer,” INEC stated via a statement on Twitter.
Therefore, INEC’s chief spokesman Festus Okoye, said Mr. Haruna Ari’s declaration was invalid and summoned him to Abuja immediately.
“It is null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.
“The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately,” the statement added.