The recently sacked Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, has reiterated his stance that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Aisha Binani, won the 2023 governorship election in the state.
He maintained that he had no regrets announcing her as the winner despite the controversy surrounding his decision.
Speaking at a press conference held at his residence in Bauchi State, the former REC also alleged that about 20,000 copies of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents were handed over to the Adamawa State Government by an INEC official.
Hudu Yunusa Ari made history during the 2023 governorship election by unilaterally declaring Aisha Binani as the winner, despite not being the returning officer, a move that led to his dismissal by INEC.
Addressing journalists, Hudu Ari insists that he had credible evidence proving that Binani defeated the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, INEC’s ICT head in Adamawa, Bala Aji, engaged in unethical practices, including allegedly handing over thousands of election documents to the governor.
“It came to my notice that my ICT head, Bala Aji, Conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of an honest civil servant. He surrendered about 20,000 copies of election documents to the Governor of Adamawa State ” Hudu alleged.
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He further claimed that security agencies, including the Commissioner of Police and Paramilitary Forces in the state, accompanied him to a private residence linked to the Governor, where they reportedly found government officials working with the said documents.
Hudu also accused Bala Aji of misusing INEC materials and engaging in vote-buying.
” On the day of the election, Bala Aji was busy distributing BVAS Machines and giving INEC staff money in foreign currency. This was a shocking abuse of responsibility” he said.
He expressed disappointment that INEC Headquarters failed to act on his reports regarding these alleged electoral malpractices.
“I expected INEC headquarters to act on these vote-buying allegations immediately. Instead, my report was swept under the carpet. This remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life” he lamented
The dismissed REC criticized INEC for not granting him a fair hearing, insisting that he has sufficient evidence to justify his actions.
For now, Hudu Yunusa Ari revealed that he is consulting with his family on whether to seek legal redress over his dismissal.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
