Suspended Adamawa REC, Hudu Ari in police custody

Suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari is in police custody, Channels Television reports.

A police source on Tuesday via a telephone conversation confirmed the development.

After the supplementary election in Adamawa on April 15, 2023, Ari courted controversy when he named Aisha “Binani” Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the victor while results were still being tallied.

In response, President Muhammad Buhari ordered a complete inquiry into the electoral commissioner and the security men present when he made the declaration. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) then annulled Ari’s decision and suspended him.

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, was subsequently declared the legitimate winner of the drama-filled election by INEC.

Security agencies had also been told to find the embattled REC, whose whereabouts had been a mystery since the crisis began more than two weeks ago, and arrest and charge him.