Nigeria’s intelligence police SSS says it cannot immediately ascertain if a man that was seen being manhandled in a viral video from the INEC collation centre in Adamawa State is one of its agents.

A near-breakdown of law ensued on Sunday in Yola when rogue Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunisa-Ari announced APC’s Aisha Dahiru Binani as the governor-elect while result collation from the supplementary election held on Saturday was yet to be concluded.

A viral video from the collation centre showed a man in suit and tie, typically worn by SSS agents, being shoved by party agents who struggled to seize Mr Ari as he fled the scene after his illegal pronouncement.

However, SSS spokesman Peter Afunanya, in a statement shared on Twitter on Sunday night, said the secret police were still investigating the incident.

“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,” Mr Afunanya said.

“The Service wishes to inform the public that it has commenced a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident.” 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the collation of results in Adamawa’s rerun election after Mr Ari’s false declaration on Sunday.

INEC’s chief spokesman Festus Okoye in a statement said Mr Ari’s declaration was invalid and summoned him to Abuja immediately.

“It is null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended,’’ the statement added. “The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.”