By Abiola Olawale
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to claims made by Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, who was sacked following his actions during the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.
INEC called on Yunusa-Ari to defend himself in court rather than through press conferences.
The New Diplomat reports that during the 2023 Adamawa governorship election, Yunusa-Ari prematurely declared Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner while the collation of results was still ongoing.
INEC swiftly nullified Yunusa-Ari’s declaration, suspended him on April 17, 2023, and later announced Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner.
Yunusa-Ari was dismissed following approval by the National Assembly, and he currently faces multiple legal charges, including alleged misconduct, abuse of office, and illegal electoral interference.
However, Yunusa-Ari, while speaking during a press conference in Bauchi, alleged that INEC suppressed evidence proving Binani’s victory. He claimed to have documentary evidence supporting his actions and denied allegations of accepting a ₦2 billion bribe to declare Binani the winner.
He also accused INEC and the Election Tribunal of ignoring his evidence and claimed he was pressured into declaring Fintiri the winner under threats to his safety.
In a counter-reaction, Chief Press Secretary CPS to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi said that now that the sacked REC is back from hiding, he would do well to go to court to answer to charges against him and prove his innocence.
Oyekanmi said: “In response to your request, our attention has also been drawn to the interview granted by the former REC of Adamawa State, Mr Hudu Yunusa Ari. There is nothing new in what he said.
“In any case, the substantive matter of the 2023 Adamawa State Governorship election has been determined through the appropriate judicial process from the trial Tribunal to the Appeal Tribunal and finally settled by the Supreme Court.
“The Commission will not comment on the propriety or otherwise of his conduct during the concluding part of the election as the matter is right now the subject of litigation at the High Court sitting in Yola, and therefore subjudice.
“Now that he is back in the country, the right place to prove his innocence and the propriety of his action is by availing himself of the due process of law and not a press conference”.
