Binani Won Adamawa 2023 Guber Polls — Sacked REC-Hudu Insists
…Says, he has documentary evidence
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Mr Hudu Ari, who was recently sacked from his position as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has again said that he has documentary evidence to show that Senator Aisha Binani won the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ari, who stated this few days after the National Assembly approved his sack as a Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the controversies that trailed the conduct of the elections, swore with Quran before journalists that Senator Binani won the controversial election and not Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri.
An enraged Ari told journalists in his private residence in Bauchi on Saturday evening he has all necessary documentary evidence to support his claim that Binani defeated Governor Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the rounds of the elections.
Ari said that both Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmud Yakubu and the Election Tribunal dismissed all his evidences against the irregularities in the controversial governorship election.
Holding a copy of the Holy Qur’an while speaking to Journalists, he said that there was pressure on him and other officials of the Commission to declare Governor Fintiri as winner of the election else, his security could not be guaranteed.
Swearing with the Holy Qur’an, Ari said he did all he did in good faith and in accordance with the guidelines of the elections.
In his words; “It came to my notice that my Head of ICT, Bala Aji, conducted himself, not in the manner of a good Civil servant, or an honest Civil servant, as far as the elections were concerned. He surrendered election documents, about 20,000 copies, to the Governor of Adamawa State.
“We received a report, myself, the Commissioner of Police, and all the paramilitary agencies operating in Adamawa State. We went to that place. It’s a private house of the Governor. We went there and it took us time to open that door.
“When the door was opened, we met the SSG and some government officials. We met them working directly with the documents. These documents covered the whole of the State.
“So, we wrote a report. This is what is happening. And not only that, Bala Aji (ICT Head of INEC in Adamawa) misappropriated some of our papers. He took them somewhere and the worst of it, on the day of the election.
“Bala Aji, the ICT head, was busy dashing away BVAS. He was giving our staff money in foreign currency. I was shocked. To me, it’s an abuse of his own responsibility.
“So, I called him and I took strides against all that had happened, all the allegations against him. So, I expected the headquarters to respond quickly.
“They should have acted on the vote buying. So, they should have immediately come in and let us know about it. It would be the next line of action. Unfortunately, the report that I had sent to INEC HQs was swept under the carpets. This is one of the most unforgettable experiences I have ever had,” he stressed.
The dismissed INEC REC also said that he was not given fair hearing, adding that all his evidences to prove the result he declared were ignored by INEC and the Tribunal.
Ari said that he is consulting with his family on the next line of action, whether to or not to seek legal redress in court, saying; “My sack by the President did not bother me but the media trial has dented my image.
He said; “I did not collect N2bn from any politician. We are Nigerians and Nigeria belongs to all of us. It behoves on us to either make or mar it. This is very important and we must all choose what to do with it.
“I conducted the presidential and National Assembly elections successfully and was in the process of the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections when the problem began. It was in 69 polling units,” Ari said.
