Prove Your Innocence in Court, Not in the Media, INEC Tells Sacked Adamawa REC Ari

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the sacked Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to prove his innocence and justify his actions during the 2023 governorship election through the legal process, not in the media.

Yunusa-Ari was dismissed for declaring Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election while the collation of results was still ongoing, a move contrary to the official procedure where only the returning officer has the authority to make such a declaration.

However, during a press conference in Bauchi over the weekend, the former REC defended his actions, claiming he had irrefutable evidence that Binani had defeated the incumbent Governor Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also alleged that INEC suppressed this evidence.

Yunusa-Ari had reportedly failed to appear in court several times and is believed to have fled to Niger Republic, sparking calls for his arrest.

In response to his remarks, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated that while the commission would not comment on the propriety of Yunusa-Ari’s actions due to the ongoing litigation, he should defend himself in court rather than through press conferences.

“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. 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,” Oyekanmi said.

“The Commission will not comment on the propriety or otherwise of his conduct during the concluding part of the election as the matter is currently subject to litigation at the High Court in Yola and is therefore subjudice. Now that he is back in the country, the right place to prove his innocence and the propriety of his actions is through the due process of law, not a press conference,” he concluded.