The dismissed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, has defended his decision to declare Aisha Dahiru-Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election before the conclusion of result collation.
Mr. Ari, who spoke to journalists on Sunday at his residence in Bauchi, said he had incontrovertible evidence that Binani defeated incumbent Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Holding a copy of the Holy Quran, Mr. Ari insisted that his declaration was based on electoral guidelines and made in good faith. He accused INEC officials of electoral misconduct, alleging that some compromised the collation process.
“It came to my notice that my head of ICT, Bala Aji, conducted himself dishonestly during the election. He allegedly surrendered 20,000 election documents to the Governor of Adamawa State,” he claimed.
According to him, security agencies, including the Commissioner of Police, accompanied him to a private residence linked to the governor, where they allegedly found election materials being manipulated.
“We met the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and some government officials working directly with these documents,” he added.
Mr. Ari further alleged that the ICT Head of INEC in Adamawa distributed BVAS machines to unauthorized persons and provided staff members with foreign currency to influence the election outcome.
“I was shocked. It was an abuse of responsibility,” he said, expressing disappointment that his reports to INEC headquarters were allegedly ignored.
Reacting to his dismissal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr. Ari said he was still consulting his family on whether to seek legal redress.
“My sack by the President did not bother me, but the media trial has damaged my reputation. I did not collect N2 billion from any politician,” he stated.
He also lamented that both INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and the Election Tribunal dismissed his evidence, denying him a fair hearing.
Mr. Ari’s declaration of Aisha Binani as the governor-elect in 2023 led to national controversy, as INEC swiftly nullified the announcement and reaffirmed Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s victory after the final collation of results.
His actions led to his suspension, followed by his eventual sack and an investigation into his role in the disputed election.
Despite the controversy, Mr. Ari insists he acted in line with electoral laws and is now considering his next course of action.
