The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the sacked Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to prove his innocence and the propriety of his action by availing himself of due process of law rather than a press conference.
Yunusa-Ari was sacked over his controversial declaration of Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) of the All Progressives Party as the winner of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election while collation was still ongoing, contrary to the procedure where a returning officer is empowered to make a declaration.
However, speaking at a press conference in Bauchi during the weekend, the former REC justified his actions, saying he had incontrovertible evidence that Binani defeated the incumbent governor, Umaru Fintiri, but INEC suppressed the evidence.
Yunusa-Ari reportedly failed to appear in court several times as he allegedly fled to the Niger Republic, which led to calls for his arrest.
When asked about Yunusa-Ari’s comments, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said that while the commission will not comment on the propriety or otherwise of his conduct because the matter is currently a subject of litigation, he should defend himself in court and not the media.
“In response to your request, our attention has also been drawn to the interview granted by the former REC of Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari. There is nothing new in what,” he said.
“In any case, the substantive matter of the 2023 Adamawa State Governorship election has been determined through the appropriate judicial process from the trial Tribunal to the Appeal Tribunal and finally settled by the Supreme Court.
“The Commission will not comment on the propriety or otherwise of his conduct during the concluding part of the election as the matter is right now the subject of litigation at the High Court sitting in Yola and, therefore, subjudice.
“Now that he is back in the country, the right place to prove his innocence and the propriety of his action is by availing himself of the due process of law and not a press conference,” Oyekanmi said.
