…Says Evidence Showed Binani Won
The former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, has made shocking revelations about the 2023 governorship election in the state, alleging widespread electoral malpractice and corruption among officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Ari, who was dismissed from his post following the controversial election, there is sufficient evidence to prove that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aisha Binani, won the election, not the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In an interview with select journalists in Bauchi on Saturday, Ari claimed that he had submitted irrefutable evidence to both the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, and the Election Tribunal regarding the irregularities surrounding the election results.
However, he lamented that his evidence was dismissed without consideration.
He accused both INEC and the Tribunal of ignoring the facts and undermining the integrity of the election process.
Ari further alleged that pressure had been mounted on him and other electoral officials to declare Fintiri as the winner, under threat to their personal safety.
“There was clear pressure from powerful quarters, and I was informed that my security could not be guaranteed unless I declared Fintiri as the winner,” Ari said.
The former REC also detailed incidents of misconduct and corruption within the INEC structure.
He accused the ICT Head of INEC in Adamawa, Bala Aji, of unprofessional behaviour, including the illegal handing over of about 20,000 sensitive election documents to the Governor of Adamawa, Fintiri.
Ari said he was made aware of the situation when a joint task force, including himself, the Commissioner of Police, and paramilitary agencies, went to a private residence of the governor after receiving a report of the illicit activity.
“We arrived at the house, and after a struggle, we managed to open the door. We found the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and other government officials working directly with the sensitive documents,” Ari revealed.
The documents, which were meant to be secured for the integrity of the election, allegedly covered the entire state of Adamawa.
Ari claimed that he immediately filed a report detailing the violation, but no immediate action was taken.
He also accused Aji of misappropriating election materials, including the BVAS (Biometric Voter Accreditation System) devices, and even distributing foreign currency to INEC staff on election day.
Ari said he was “shocked” by the conduct of Aji and believed that these actions were a severe abuse of office.
Despite his efforts to address the irregularities, Ari claimed that his report was disregarded by INEC headquarters.
He said that the failure to investigate the allegations of vote buying and electoral malpractice marked a particularly bitter experience in his tenure.
In his interview, the former REC maintained that his dismissal from INEC by President Muhammadu Buhari did not personally trouble him, but he expressed frustration over the damage to his reputation.
He categorically denied the allegations that he had accepted N2 billion from any politician in exchange for influencing the election results.
“I have never collected a dime from any politician, let alone N2 billion,” he stated, dismissing the accusations as baseless and defamatory.
Ari, who has been consulting with his family, said that he was considering taking legal action against INEC and the tribunal for what he describes as a “failure to ensure justice.”
He emphasized that his conscience is clear, and he remains steadfast in his belief that Binani was the rightful winner of the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa.
As the controversy continues to simmer, many have questioned the credibility of the 2023 election in Adamawa, and there are growing calls for a thorough investigation into the claims made by Ari and others who have raised concerns over the conduct of INEC officials during the electoral process.
The issue remains unresolved, and with Ari’s insistence on his innocence and the weight of the evidence he claims to have, the legal and political fallout from the election may still have a long way to go.
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