Taiwo Popoola
Former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Hudu Ari, has reiterated his claim that Senator Aisha Binani, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial election, was the rightful winner of the poll.
Speaking to journalists at his private residence in Bauchi State on Saturday, Ari swore by God that his actions were based on truth and evidence.
He insisted that he possessed documentary proof showing Binani defeated the incumbent governor, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ari, who was suspended in 2023 and officially dismissed last week following National Assembly approval, expressed frustration that his evidence of electoral irregularities was ignored by both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
Holding a copy of the Qur’an during the press briefing, he maintained that his actions were in good faith and aligned with electoral guidelines.
He alleged that he and other electoral officials were pressured to declare Governor Fintiri the winner under threats to their safety.
Ari further accused INEC’s Head of ICT in Adamawa State, Bala Aji, of manipulating the election process by handing over about 20,000 election documents to the governor.
He claimed that, alongside the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies, he raided a private residence allegedly linked to the governor, where electoral malpractices were taking place.
“It took time to open the door, and when we finally gained access, we found the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and other officials working with election documents that covered the entire state,” he alleged.
Additionally, Ari accused Aji of distributing BVAS machines and bribing INEC staff with foreign currency on Election Day.
“This was a clear abuse of responsibility, and I took immediate steps against these actions, expecting INEC headquarters to intervene. Instead, my reports were ignored,” he lamented.
He maintained that he was denied a fair hearing by both INEC and the Tribunal, stating that his evidence in support of Binani’s victory was dismissed without proper consideration.
According to him, his biggest concern was not his dismissal by the President but the “media trial” that had damaged his reputation.
Addressing allegations that he received a ₦2 billion bribe from politicians, Ari flatly denied the claim.
He stated that he was consulting his family on whether to pursue legal action, adding, “Nigeria belongs to all of us, and it is up to us to either make it or mar it.”
Reflecting on his tenure in Adamawa, he noted that he successfully conducted the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections without controversy.
However, he claimed that irregularities in 69 polling units during the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections led to the crisis that ultimately resulted in his dismissal.
