‘I Am Not Hiding’ —  Embattled Adamawa REC Says amid Police Manhunt, Insists Binani Won

Despite the purported manhunt against him, Barriter Hudu Yunusa Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, says he is not hiding from the police.

He also has no regret declaring Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the April 15th supplementary election. Strongly, he also denied receiving a bribe from the female governorship hopeful.

The embattled lawyer who spoke to BBC Hausa swore he did not compromise. He said either Binani or the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri bribed him during the elections.

Amid Police Manhunt, Suspended Adamawa REC Writes IGP, Gives Reasons for Declaring Binani Winner

“Where will I take 2 million? I didn’t take a kobo from Binani or Fintiri. I know this is against the teachings of Islam and collecting bribes won’t do me any good,” he told the medium in Hausa.

Binani had challenged the incumbent governor of the state, Fintiri in the governorship race that attracted attention across the country. The first election held on March 18 was voided by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), hence a rerun was slated for April 15.

Suspiciously, Ari walked into the collation center with already prepared results and declared Binani winner of the rerun poll. This happened when results of 10 local councils were yet to be collated. There were other issues that raise suspicion about the incident.

NO REGRET

According to Hudu, he had no regrets, whatsoever, for declaring Binani as the winner as he was required by the law to do that. He justified his claims, insisting Binani had won the elections with a total figure of 428,173 while Fintiri lost with 422,303.

When asked why he announced the results without awaiting the collation to be completed, he waved the question saying: “This is in the past.”

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Ari fled Adamawa after stirring up chaos. He also refused to honour INEC’s invitation for scrutiny. This, plus public outcry, WikkiTimes believes, forced the commission to recommend his suspension. 

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On April 20, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension  pending the completion of police investigation.

The commission went further, asking the police to probe Ari. But the suspended commissioner has been on the run, according to reports.

‘I WILL VISIT THE POLICE’

The suspended REC also refuted claims that he has been hiding from the police and refusing to honuor their invitation. 

“I am not hiding. I will visit them.”

Asked when he will go, he responded: “I will check the invitation letter again.”

Meanwhile, the police did not invite Ari, a committee set up by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba Alkali, and led by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police,  Garba Umar, WikkiTimes learnt. Umar also heads INTERPOL in Nigeria.

Whereabouts of Suspended Adamawa REC Unknown, Says INEC

Spokesperson for Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Funmi Eguaoje, said Ari would appear before officials of INEC, the Department of States Services (DSS) and the NPF, Leadership reports.

“There was a committee constituted to investigate, which included INEC and the police. AIG Umar is the chairman of that committee,” she said. “He (Yunusa-Ari) was not invited by police or INTERPOL so to say. He was invited by the committee. The committee comprises officials of the DSS, NPF and INEC.” 

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