The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the dismissed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, to defend himself in court as he faces trial for alleged electoral misconduct during the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Ari, who is currently being prosecuted by INEC, claimed over the weekend in Bauchi that he had evidence proving that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani), won the election.
The former REC had controversially declared Binani the winner while the rerun election was still ongoing, an action that led to a crisis. He later fled the state, citing threats to his life.
However, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olimekun, stated that the commission would not engage in public discussions about the allegations since the case was before the court.
“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,” Olimekun told The Nation.
He emphasized that all judicial processes concerning the election had been exhausted, with the Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
“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,” he said.
Olimekun further insisted that Ari should prove his innocence in court rather than addressing the public through press conferences.
“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,” he added.
Recently, the Senate approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to officially remove Ari and two other RECs from their positions.
