ABUJA, Nigeria – In a surprising turn of events, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Hudu Ari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State.
The announcement was made in a statement on Thursday, April 20, 2023, from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha. The suspension comes as the Inspector-General of Police investigates Ari’s conduct during the April 15 supplementary election in Adamawa State.
Willie Bassey, Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said, “The President has directed the immediate investigation and prosecution, if found liable, of Hudu Yunusa Ari by the Inspector General of Police.”
In addition to the investigation of Ari, the President has also ordered inquiries into the involvement of officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
The Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the DSS, and the Commandant General of the NSCDC have been tasked with determining if any of their officers aided and abetted Ari’s alleged misconduct.
The statement added that officers who are found culpable will face “appropriate disciplinary actions.”
With this investigation underway, the suspension of Hudu Ari will remain in effect until its conclusion.
