Former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, has claimed he was pressured into announcing Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as the winner of the controversial 2023 governorship election despite allegedly having evidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, was the rightful winner.
In an interview with journalists in Bauchi on Saturday, Yunusa-Ari accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Election Tribunal of deliberately ignoring evidence of electoral malpractice. He alleged that both INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the ICT head in Adamawa, Bala Aji, were complicit in manipulating election results to favor Fintiri.
According to Yunusa-Ari, he and other electoral officials faced intense pressure and threats to their security to declare Fintiri victorious. Swearing by the Holy Qur’an, he maintained that his actions were in line with electoral guidelines and that he was unfairly dismissed without due process.
He further alleged that sensitive election materials, including 20,000 documents, were handed over to Governor Fintiri and discovered in a private residence linked to the state government. He also claimed that BVAS machines were manipulated, with INEC officials allegedly bribed in foreign currency to influence results on election day.
Despite presenting reports detailing these irregularities, Yunusa-Ari lamented that his evidence was disregarded by INEC and the Tribunal. “Even God gives people the right to defend themselves, yet I was not given a fair hearing. My letters and evidence were ignored,” he stated.
The dismissed REC also denied allegations that he received a N2 billion bribe and revealed that he was consulting his family on his next course of action.
Yunusa-Ari was suspended by INEC on April 17, 2023, after he unilaterally declared Binani as the election winner while collation was still ongoing. His announcement was swiftly nullified by INEC, and he was later arraigned before the Adamawa State High Court on charges of unprofessional conduct.
His legal battle continues, with a recent attempt to halt court proceedings dismissed for lack of merit.
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