INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye says the Adamawa State Commissioner for Saturday’s supplementary governorship poll was stripped naked and brutalized by thugs.
Speaking to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, Okoye tasked security agencies to arrest and prosecute those behind the act.
In his words, “If you see what is trending, two national commissioners were deployed to Adamawa State. One of them was brutalised, one of them was stripped naked. That will not be allowed to stand.
“The security agencies must unmask those who engaged in that particular act. They must be arrested, they must be investigated and they must be prosecuted. A national commissioner cannot be treated as if he or she is a common criminal.
“A former Vice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University, a senior citizen was stripped naked and dragged. This commission will not allow that to stand.”
Okoye also said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Yunusa Ari, has arrived Abuja over an invalid declaration of Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election.
He said, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa State exercises what we call delegated authority; power delegated to him by the Independent National Electoral Commissioner.
“Acting as collation and returning officer are not part of the powers delegated to him. So, he has no right whatsoever to make a declaration and make a return.”
This is coming after the controversies that trailed the Adamawa governorship election when at about 9am, Binani was announced winner of the election over the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The declaration was later annulled.
