The sacked Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, has declared that that Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious in the 2023 governorship election.
Yunusa-Ari, who was relieved of his duties by the Senate last week following allegations of misconduct, held up the Quran during a press conference, asserting that his decision to announce Binani as the winner was guided by his faith.
He maintained that he had attempted to explain his actions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through multiple letters, but to no avail.
According to Yunusa-Ari, officials were coerced into declaring Ahmadu Fintiri, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, as the winner instead.
Binani
“The dismissal is not my problem,” he said, citing the civil service rules and procedures that govern how such cases should be reviewed. “Even God will never punish anybody without sending the messages, the prophets, and the scriptures.”
In April 2023, Yunusa-Ari prematurely declared Binani the winner of the gubernatorial election in Adamawa state, prompting INEC to reject the announcement and summon him to their headquarters in Abuja. Then-President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently suspended him, pending a police investigation.
Additionally, INEC filed six charges against Yunusa-Ari in Yola’s high court in July 2024.
