I Was Forced to Declare Fintiri Winner – Dismissed Adamawa REC Insists Under Oath

Sacked Adamawa INEC REC swears by the Holy Qur’an, claiming he was pressured into announcing Governor Fintiri as the election winner, sparking fresh controversy.

The former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, has claimed that he faced pressure to announce Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as the winner of the contentious 2023 governorship election. This was despite having evidence indicating that Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC), had rightfully won.

During an interview with select journalists in Bauchi on Saturday, Yunusa-Ari alleged that both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the Election Tribunal intentionally disregarded evidence of widespread irregularities.

He claimed that he and other officials faced pressure to declare Fintiri the winner due to threats against their security.

With his hand on the Holy Qur’an, he firmly asserted that he acted in good faith and adhered to electoral guidelines.

He also accused Bala Aji, the head of ICT for INEC in Adamawa, of compromising the election by allegedly providing Governor Fintiri with 20,000 sensitive election documents.

He also alleged that the documents were discovered in a private residence associated with the governor, where high-ranking government officials were reportedly tampering with them.

Yunusa-Ari further claimed that Aji distributed BVAS machines and bribed INEC staff with foreign currency on election day, describing it as a blatant abuse of power.

READ ALSO: Sacked INEC REC Hudu Ari Seeks Fair Hearing Over Dismissal

He expressed regret that his reports revealing those violations were disregarded by INEC headquarters.

He stated, “The dismissal is not my responsibility. The civil service operates according to its own rules, procedures, and regulations.”

In legal terms, there’s a principle known as the golden rule of natural justice stating that individuals have the right to be heard. Similarly, it’s believed that even God does not punish without first delivering messages through prophets and scriptures.

He asked, “What do you say to the fact that INEC refused to accept my letters and the tribunal decided not to use my evidence? Even as an ordinary judge?”

Ari claimed to have substantial evidence supporting his position, yet he was never given the opportunity to present his case.

He presented what he asserted were genuine result sheets, along with the letters he had sent to INEC.

“They should have taken immediate action, but my report was ignored. This remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life,” he said.

He expressed strong disapproval of not receiving a fair hearing, alleging that INEC and the Tribunal rejected all his evidence.

Yunusa-Ari has denied allegations of accepting a N2 billion bribe and mentioned that he is discussing his next steps with his family. He also stated that the media coverage has significantly harmed his reputation.

It was reported that Mr. Yunusa-Ari was suspended on April 17, 2023, after he unilaterally declared Aisha Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, as the winner of the Adamawa State governorship rerun election while collation was still ongoing.

His announcement was broadly criticized as unlawful, leading the INEC to promptly invalidate the declaration.

He was subsequently brought before the Adamawa State High Court, facing charges of unprofessional conduct.

Earlier this year, his effort to stop the court proceedings was rejected due to a lack of merit.