MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Frank Oshanugor
As the confusion stoked on Sunday by the illegal declaration of the supplementary election result by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, continues to rage, the Department of State Service (DSS), has taken step to ascertain the level of its staff’s involvement.
The REC has defiantly gone ahead to declare the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate Senator Dahiru Aishatu Binani as winner of the election which took place on Saturday 15th April when results were still being collated in some local government areas.
He made the declaration without recourse to laid down procedures and his action prompted a reaction from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which same day in a statement announced suspension of the collation of results and declaration that the announcement of result by the REC was null and void since the REC usurped the powers of the Returning Officer.
In a statement on Sunday, DSS spokesman Dr. Peter Afunanya said
“the attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to a trending video on the social media in which someone suspected to be its staff was allegedly manhandled by some political miscreants in Adamawa State. This followed developments arising from the supplementary governorship election in the State.
“The Service wishes to inform the public that it has commenced a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident.”
While calling for calm, the Service has implored concerned parties in Adamawa State to remain peace loving and shun violence while investigation is being carried on.
