The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, said to have gone into hiding, is speaking up now about his decision to make Binani.
You must have been wanting to hear his side of the story about his decision that was upturned by the Head of the electoral body.
He is speaking up now about his decision.
The Adamawa state gubernatorial election caused quite a stir in the nation.
Quite a number of persons had hoped that Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be declared the winner of the election.
However, Binani was still behind Governor Ahmadu Finitri by thousands of votes.
Eventually, the election was declared inconclusive and a supplementary election was scheduled for April 15.
Supplementary Election
After the supplementary election, counting and collection began immediately.
However, on Saturday, the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari declared a winner.
This was done without the final coalition of results from about 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Also, he did this outside his statutory responsibility, as the declaration should have been done by the State Returning Officer.
In quick response, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voided Yunusa-Ari’s declaration.
Furthermore, the commission invited him to the headquarters in Abuja, while collation was suspended.
Eventually, collation continued and Governor Fintiri was declared the winner, but the REC was no where to be found.
However, a few days after the REC was invited to the commission’s headquarters, he was said to have been missing.
Mr Yunusa-Ari is back and he says he does not regret his declaration.
Yunusa-Ari Speaks
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa, the now-suspended REC says he does not regret his action.
He claims he acted within the provisions of the law.
“I never demanded any gratification from either of Binani or Fintiri,” Ari said.
“None of the duo sent anything to me; if they have done so by now they will be demanding their monies back,” he adds.
On receiving his certificate of return, Governor Fintiti promised to ensure that Yunusa-Ari is sentenced for the false declaration.
Yunusa-Ari Arrested
On Tuesday, Yunusa-Ari was arrested by the police for questioning.
The electoral body had requested that the police should investigate the incident to know if the suspended REC got a tip.
Also Read: Adamawa: Police Arrest Suspended REC, Yunusa Ari
Well, his arrest is not so much of a thing of joy for many Nigerians.
Some say everything about the REC would end up in the trash. Others say it is just a mere showoff, to buy back the credibility of the dented electoral body.
Nigerians wait.
