Barely 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) summoned its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to Abuja, the electoral umpire says the REC has yet to report to the commission’s headquarters in the nation’s capital.

The Star recalls that Yunusa-Ari was summoned to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Sunday, April 16, after he declared the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Binani, winner of the governorship supplementary election in Adamawa State while the process of results collation from about 10 Local Government Areas was yet to be concluded.

The INEC headquarters, however, declared his action null and void and suspended the result collation process.

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The commission also summoned the REC and others involved in the action to the electoral umpire’s headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking on the development on Monday, April 17, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said Yunusa-Ari was still being expected as of the time of filling this report.

“The REC was directed to report today (Monday). We are still expecting him,” Okoye said.

INEC has however directed Yunusa-Ari to immediately stay away from the state office until further notice.

The electoral umpire also ordered its administrative secretary in Adamawa State to take charge of the state office with immediate effect.

The Star