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Tag: REC

  • Ondo 2024: Protest in INEC over demand for REC redeployment

    Ondo 2024: Protest in INEC over demand for REC redeployment

    Many demonstrators from Ondo stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, from the state.

    Display banners and placards with messages such as “Mahmood: Redeploy Babalola Now” and “We Don’t Want a Repeat of Edo Fiasco,” the demonstrators blocked the entrance to the national secretariat, demanding a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to voice their concerns.

    The protest comes a week after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, made a similar request, citing concerns over Babalola’s alleged links to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Speaking at a Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally in Akure, Makinde argued that Babalola’s background in Ondo may compromise the neutrality of the electoral process.

    Supporting the governor’s stance, Ayo Adeyemi, Leader of the demonstrators and Convener of the Ondo Youth League, told journalists that while they had no personal issues with the REC, they could not risk any potential bias in the upcoming election.

    Adeyemi stated, “Redeploying Babalola is in the best interest of our people and INEC to ensure a free and credible election.”

    He added, “We urgently demand that INEC redeploy Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, from the state. We respect her accomplishments, especially as a woman who has risen to such a prominent position. But for a free and fair election in Ondo, we can’t have Babalola overseeing the process. She grew up here, knows nearly everyone in the public sector, and is highly familiar with the state.
    Babalola hasn’t done anything wrong; we simply want her reassigned to another state to avoid any possible conflict of interest.”

    “We’re not here to criticise INEC’s operations; we just want an unbiased REC to oversee the upcoming governorship election.”

    Responding to the protesters, INEC National Commissioner, Major General Modibbo Alkali (retd), commended them for their orderly conduct.

    Alkali assured them that the commission would consider their concerns regarding Babalola’s position.

    “We appreciate seeing you come here well-organised. INEC operates impartially, without alignment to any political party or candidate. We function under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he

    said. “We’ve received your letter, and INEC will consider it thoroughly. Rest assured, your concerns will be analysed and addressed by the commission chairman.”

  • Court dismisses suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari’s suit, seeking protection against arrest, prosecution

    Court dismisses suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari’s suit, seeking protection against arrest, prosecution

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a suit filed by Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, seeking protection against arrest, detention or prosecution by the police and others.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a judgement, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
    Justice Omotosho held that though Yunusa-Ari, in his fundamental rights enforcement suit, made an elaborate show by trying to shield himself from being arrest, detain or prosecuted by security agencies, there was no ground where such immunity could have been granted by the court
    The judge agreed with the respondents that the suspended REC derailed on his allegations when he claimed that the respondents subjected him to media trial.

    He observed that Yunusa-Ari also claimed that his fundamental right was breached by the respondents for posting negative information against him on social media, while insisting that he was not giving fair hearing.

    But Justice Omotosho held that the issue of fair hearing had nothing to do with publications of news worthy matters by the media practitioners in order not to fail in their responsibility of dissemination of information to the society.

    He said “news reported by the media is not a court of law and that the media, as the fourth estate of the realm, must be free to report at all times.”

    Besides, he said the applicant had not shown that he was dragged to any court or tribunal but only claimed that the respondents engaged in media trial against him.

    The suspended REC had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2023, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force as 1st and 2nd respondents.

    Also joined in the suit filed by his lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, include the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Director of Department of State Services (DSS) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 3rd to 5th respondents respectively.

    Yunusa-Ari, who sought eight reliefs, prayed an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining or causing his arrest or detention, harassment or intimidation for carrying out his lawful duties as the INEC REC in Adamawa during the supplementary governorship election held in the state on April 15, 2023.

    He also sought an order directing the respondents to publish an apology in two national dailies “for the unlawful and unconstitutional media trials and negative press interviews, press statements/release, social media posts, publications etc against” him for carrying out his lawful duties as INEC REC.

    Giving six grounds, he said he was the REC during Feb. 25, 2023 and March 18, 2023, general elections, including the supplementary poll on April 15, 2023.

    He said after the general elections, he issued an interim report which raised a lot of criminal issues against security agencies and some INEC staff.

    He said the respondents only considered part of his report, leading to the conduct of a supplementary governorship and state house of assembly elections on April 15, 2023 in the state.

    He averred that upon the conclusion of the supplementary poll, he wrote his report and to his total shock and dismay, instead of investigating the persons named in his report and the issues raised in the said report, the respondents had continuously embarked on media trials against him.
    Yunusa-Ari alleged that the respondents and their agents, without any valid judgment and conviction by a competent court, had made several press and social media pronouncements against him that he was guilty of a criminal offence in the performances of his lawful duties as INEC REC.

    He described the acts as “a gross violation of his constitutional right to fair hearing.”

    But delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the only issue to determine in the case was whether the fundamental rights of Yunusa-Ari were breached by any of the respondents.
    The judge said though the fundamental rights are sacrosanct to every human being, the rights are not absolute.

    He held that the suspended REC filed the suit quoting Section 35 of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution to prevent himself from being prosecuted for the role he played in the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.

    “This court will not shied any person against investigation or prosecution if a prima facie case is established against such person,” the judge said.

    Justice Omotosho, who described the suit as “highly unmeritorious,” declared that the “suit lacks merits.”

    “This suit is hereby dismissed for lack of merit,” he said.

     

  • Saki rerun: Oyo REC commend voters, describes election as seamless

    Saki rerun: Oyo REC commend voters, describes election as seamless

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Dr Adeniran Tella, has described the Saturday rerun election in Saki West State Constituency as seamless.

    Tella, while monitoring election at polling units 007 and 019 ward 11 both located in Odo Osun and Ogbalanja areas of Saki, commended voters who participated in the rerun for their peaceful conducts.

    He also commended men and officers of security agencies led by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hamzat Adebola, for maintaining order and effective manning of the two polling units.

    Tella said the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed for the exercise performed well, adding that there wasn’t any hitches as regards the rerun election.

    The REC visited the two polling units alongside the commissioner of police and other management staff of the commission while the exercise was still on.

    He expressed optimism that the exercise will be a success.

     

  • Police confirm attack on INEC REC’s residence in Kogi

    Police confirm attack on INEC REC’s residence in Kogi

    The Police in Kogi has confirmed the reported attack on the residence of   INEC  Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Gabriel Longpet.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, who confirmed the attack to NAN in Lokoja on Friday, described the incident as very unfortunate and wicked.

    Onuoha, explained that the attackers came to the residence around 3.00 a.m. on Friday but met stiff resistance from security operatives.

    “The joy of it all is that the hoodlums did not succeed in their nefarious act as my officers gallantly repelled their attack and burnt the vehicle they came with.

    “Right now there are soldiers stationed in the house alongside our personnel to keep watch and ensure safety.

    “Again all the junctions around the house and INEC office have heavily armed soldiers and policemen keeping watch to forestall any eventuality.

    “We want to assure the public that there’s no cause for alarm as we, the security operatives, are on top of  situation in  Kogi, ” he said.

    Responding to the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and  the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state condemned it  but traded blames.

    While the SDP called for immediate investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to book, APC blamed it on SDP with a call for the immediate arrest of the SDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka over the attack.

    The Director of Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in an emergency news conference on Friday, said that aside from the INEC commissioner’s residence, there were attempted attacks on the  Government House and the party’s secretariat.

    Fanwo accused the SDP of trying desperately to cover their offences in Kogi East in the just concluded Nov. 11 governorship election in the state, and to corrupt INEC documents that could be used at the election petition tribunal.

    He called on the police, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to immediately arrest what he described as slide to anarchy in the state,  by arresting Ajaka, and his supporters,  who allegedly masterminded the attack on the residence of the REC.

    “The attack was perpetrated days after we alerted the nation of plans by the  SDP thugs to attack INEC.

    “They have finally done their worst by attacking the residence of the Kogi INEC commissioner, engaging security agents in a fierce gun battle, and eventually burning down some vehicles in the residence and in the area, ” he said.

    But the SDP through its  Director of New Media, Muri/Sam Campaign Council, Mr
    Isaiah Ijele, in a statement said:  “We strongly condemn the assassination attempt on the INEC REC.

    Ijele blamed the attack on thugs loyal to the state government.

    “We are grateful for the timely intervention of the Army, as the man and his family could have been wiped out overnight.

    “The attackers also burnt his vehicles and took other valuables. This kind of behavior is not acceptable in a democratic society.

    “Those individuals who have been involved in these attacks on INEC REC must be held accountable for their actions.

    “We call for all those who have been involved in the protests, inciting violence and making provocative statements, to be apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

  • Coalition of democratic watchdogs query appointment of card carrying members of political party as RECs

    Coalition of democratic watchdogs query appointment of card carrying members of political party as RECs

    … demand immediate withdrawal of such names

    … raise doubts over electoral process

    A coalition of CSOs under the aegis of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria has queried the appointment of confirmed card carrying members of a political as Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs by the President Bola Tinubu’s led administration demanding an immediate withdrawal of such names.

    This was contained in a letter addressed to the Chief of Staff, CoS, to President Tinubu, President of the Senate, Speaker HoR, INEC chairman, development partners, other critical stakeholders.

    The coalition in the letter co-signed by its members declared that to give meaningful interpretations to Nigeria’s electoral process the names of the affected politicians should be dropped immediately.

    Going down memory lane of how the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari played with the psyche of Nigerians by appointing APC card carrying members without due recourse to due process.

    Apparently peeved by this development the group in the letter expressly stated that:

    “Our Coalition has noted with dismay the recent appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission by the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with utmost respect to the office he is occupying.

    Upon our independent verification and fact-finding exercise conducted by our coalition, we unravelled that 4 out of
    the 10 appointees are card carrying members of a particular political party, contradicting clearly the provisions of the extant laws as provided by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. In other words, the appointment of card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as RECs runs contrary to the third schedule to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, which prohibits partisan appointments into INEC.

    “The third schedule to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution prohibits the appointment of a partisan person into INEC in Item F, paragraph 14.

    “There shall be for each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory,
    Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party,”
    section 14, 3(b) states.

    “Our coalition hereby raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, the risk associated with the appointment of partisan individuals to such sensitive
    positions.

    “We hereby express fears that such appointments could compromise the independence and impartiality of the electoral commission (INEC), leading
    to biased, unfair and unjust elections in Nigeria

    “As a coalition, we hereby draw attention to the warning issued by former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who criticised the existing laws that empower politicians to appoint top officials of the commission. Mr Jega urged that the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners should be divested from the president and given to the Commission at INEC, with the power to hire and fire.

    We hereby warn that the track record of former President Muhammadu Buhari,
    who repeatedly nominated partisan individuals and persons with integrity issues
    as INEC RECs, drawing widespread criticism from civil society organisations and
    members of the public.

    “A good example was the appointment of Lauretta Onochie, a known member of the APC, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate in 2021, and the case of Olalekan Raheem, a member of the APC, whose nomination was rejected in 2017 for being a card-carrying member of the party.

    Read letter in part below:

    The Coalition of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria is a Coalition of INEC Accredited Observer Organizations (Foreign and Domestic) who have been
    collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Election Observation, Voter Education and Advocacy on Electoral Matters.

    Our Coalition has noted with dismay the recent appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission by the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with utmost respect to the office he is occupying. Upon our independent verification and fact-finding exercise conducted by our coalition, we unravelled that 4 out of
    the 10 appointees are card carrying members of a particular political party, contradicting clearly the provisions of the extant laws as provided by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. In other words, the appointment of card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as RECs runs contrary to the third schedule to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, which prohibits partisan appointments into INEC.

    The third schedule to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution prohibits the appointment of a partisan person into INEC in Item F, paragraph 14.

    “There shall be for each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory,
    Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party,”
    section 14, 3(b) states.

    Our coalition hereby raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, the risk associated with the appointment of partisan individuals to such sensitive
    positions.

    We hereby express fears that such appointments could compromise the independence and impartiality of the electoral commission (INEC), leading
    to biased, unfair and unjust elections in Nigeria.

    As a coalition, we hereby draw attention to the warning issued by former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who criticised the existing laws that empower politicians to appoint top officials of the commission. Mr Jega urged that the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners should be divested from the president and given to the Commission at INEC, with the power to hire and fire.

    We hereby warn that the track record of former President Muhammadu Buhari,
    who repeatedly nominated partisan individuals and persons with integrity issues
    as INEC RECs, drawing widespread criticism from civil society organisations and
    members of the public. A good example was the appointment of Lauretta Onochie, a known member of the APC, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate in 2021, and the case of Olalekan Raheem, a member of the APC, whose
    nomination was rejected in 2017 for being a card-carrying member of the party.

    The appointment of partisan individuals as RECs could lead to chaos and violence during elections as exhibited by former Adamawa REC, Hudu Ari, in the conduct of the 2023 Governorship Elections in Adamawa State who illegally announced a winner in the state’s governorship election, leading to chaos across the state
    and brutalisation of a National Commissioner of the commission, Abdullahi Zuru.

    The coalition notes that until the latest amendment of the Electoral Act in 2022,
    the REC’s pronouncement may have been binding.

    As we conclude, we call on the President to withdraw the following names:
    1. Mr. Etekamba Umoren- Akwa Ibom.

    2. Mr. Isah Shaka- Edo State.

    3. Omoseyindemi Bunmi- Lagos State.

    4. Anugbum Onuoha- Rivers State. The above persons are card carrying members of the APC and appointing them as RECs in INEC amounts to an apparent contradiction of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We also urge the Senate to reject the confirmation of these persons as confirming them would
    spell doom to our electoral process and hard-earned democracy and
    consequently impair on our electoral process.

  • Adamawa Guber: Binani accuses INEC of frustrating petition at tribunal

    Adamawa Guber: Binani accuses INEC of frustrating petition at tribunal

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the last governorship election in Adamawa, Sen. Aishatu Binani has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating her petition at the tribunal.

    Binani is at the Adamawa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal challenging the declaration of Adamu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election.

    The former senator alleged that INEC was being biased by disregarding an order of court and attempting to arrest and detain the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner,  (REC), Mr Hudu Ari.

    She claimed that the plan to arrest Ari was a ploy to prevent him from testifying for her at the ongoing hearing of the tribunal.

    She alleged that INEC wanted the suspended REC apprehended and kept out of circulation to make him unavailable as a witness for her.

    Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of Binani, Alhaji Mustapha Umar-Madawaki, the APC Returning Officer in the March 18 governorship election in the state, and the re-run of April 15,  appealed to Nigerians to call INEC to order.

    Umar-Madawaki said that the electoral umpire needed to be called to order to allow the APC candidate to reclaim her mandate freely given to her by the people of Adamawa.

    The APC returning officer alleged that at the point of collation of results, INEC-trained add-hoc workers were changed and mysteriously substituted by another group of staff.

    According to him, the result of the unlawful change of add- hoc workers was the production of different election results from the one submitted by the authentic workers.

    “To my mind, that is a major reason why INEC is working overtime, trying to prevent the former Adamawa REC from testifying before the tribunal.

    ” They are afraid of the revelations he would make.

    “Their desperation is so brazen that Justice A.O Manji was forced to openly question INEC lawyer on why they are in a hurry to get Ari arrested while there is a clear court order against that.

    Madawaki said that copies of text of the media briefing would be forwarded to embassies in Nigeria and Diplomatic Missions to keep them abreast in the battle to regain the alleged stolen mandate from Binani.

    When NAN reached out to INEC for its reaction, Mr  Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee said that the commission would not join issues with any individual or group over issues and matters pending in court.

    “The Commission has operated and will continue to operate within the confines and ambit of the law.

    ” It is contemptuous to engage in public discourse of matters pending in Court.

    “All courts of record are imbued with inherent power and jurisdiction to compel the appearance of any individual in court.

    Any individual or group aggrieved over an issue can approach any of the courts and complain,” Okoye said.

  • Court stops prosecution of suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari

    Court stops prosecution of suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, over his declaration of Aisha Dahiru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as governor in the March 18 poll.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo made the order after Mr Michael Aondoaka, SAN, counsel to Dahiru, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.

    In the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, the APC candidate in the poll, sued INEC, Attorney-General.of the Federation (AGF) and another  as as respondents.

    Aondoaka while moving the motion on Monday, argued that until the election petition tribunal decides the fate of his client in accordance with Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the prosecution of Yunusa-Ari cannot be said to be valid.

    He said the decision of INEC to.file.action against any person involved in Dahiru’s April 15 declaration as winner of the supplementary poll in the state when the tribunal was yet to determine the petition of his client,  would deprive her of Section 285(6) of the law which gives 180 days within which the petition filed on May 6 should be dispensed with.

    The senior lawyer, who informed the court that though a similar suit was earlier filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo where a judicial review of INEC’s action was sought, he said the sister court ordered Binani to approach a tribunal with her suit, having being an election-related matter.

    He said an undertaking had been signed to prove to the court that the present suit was not frivolous.

    He said in the undertaking, they were ready to face any cost should the court found the case to be frivolous.

    After listening to Andoaka, Justice Okorowo ordered the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

    The judge, who adjourned the matter until July 18 for hearing, ordered the respondents to show cause while the reliefs sought by Dahiru, popularly called “Binani”, should not be granted.

  • Just In: Confirmed, embattled Adamawa REC arrested

    Just In: Confirmed, embattled Adamawa REC arrested

    Suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari is in police net.

    The REC was arrested by the police in Abuja, Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The development comes hours after Ari said in a BBC Hausa interview that he would surrender himself to the police two weeks after he went into hiding.

    “I will surely turn myself in to the police. Before, there was no summon from the police but now there is one. I will soon come out from hiding,” the embattled REC had stated.

    The suspended REC had also said he never regretted announcing Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2023 governorship election in the state.

    Ari had courted controversy after the supplementary election in Adamawa on April 15, 2023 when he announced Binani as the winner of the dramatic poll while collation of results was ongoing.

    The situation prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to nullify Ari’s decision and suspended him while President Muhammad Buhari ordered full investigation on the electoral commissioner and the security personnel that were around him when he made the declaration.

    INEC subsequently concluded the election and announced the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the authentic winner of the drama-filled poll.

    Security agencies had also been ordered to arrest and prosecute the embattled REC but Ari’s whereabouts was unknown for over two weeks before the latest development of Tuesday.

  • Adamawa Guber: Binani heads to court, sues INEC for voiding her declaration

    Adamawa Guber: Binani heads to court, sues INEC for voiding her declaration

    Following the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Binani Dahiru as the winner of the Adamawa guber  re-run election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commission (REC) Habu Ari, as of when collation was still ongoing, Binani has dragged the electoral body to Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a judicial review to void her declaration as the winner of the governorship elections held on March 18 and the supplementary poll of April 15, 2023.

    According to Senator Dahiru,  INEC has no power to cancel the declaration of a candidate as winner of an election, adding that the power resides in the election tribunal, not INEC.

    In an exparte application, Senator Dahiru is also seeking a court order to stop INEC and its agents from taking any further steps towards the declaration of the winner of the elections pending the determination of her application for judicial review.

    In her grounds of argument, the Senator stated that after the collation of results, INEC (the first respondent) declared her the winner of the elections but that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (2nd & 3rd respondents) resorted to fighting and causing a public disturbance which led to the beating and manhandling of an INEC officer.

    This crisis, she said, led INEC to cancel the initial declaration which it had no power to do, as only the election petition tribunal is vested with such powers.

    Senator Binani contends that by cancelling her declaration, INEC had usurped the powers of the election petition tribunal which is the only court vested with powers to reverse a declaration in the conduct of an election.

    In documents put before the court, Senator Dahiru, through her lawyers led by, Hussaini Zakariyau, SAN, said a judicial review exists to enable the superior court to check the actions and decisions of inferior courts as well as the legislative and administrative arms of government, including agencies and public officers.

    She further submitted that INEC, being an agency of the government, can have its actions, records, and decisions checked by the court, even as she asserted that only a court can nullify the actions of an INEC official, not INEC itself.

  • Adamawa supplementary election: INEC suspends REC

    Adamawa supplementary election: INEC suspends REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, following the illegal announcement of a candidate as winner of the election.

    It would be recalled that on Sunday, Yunusa-Ari pronounced the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as Governor-elect after Saturday’s supplementary election.

    INEC later voided the premature declaration of a winner in the controversial election “even when the process has clearly not been concluded” and summoned Yunusa-Ari to its headquarters in Abuja for further deliberation.

    In a letter addressed to Yunusa-Ari from the Commission’s secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on Monday, INEC directed the REC to “stay away” from its office in Adamawa State “immediately” until further notice.

    “The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect,” the letter added.