Suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari has said he does not regret announcing Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru winner of the supplementary governorship election in the state. “I didn’t ask Binani and Fintiri for a single penny. It is against my religion to collect money from someone to help him do anything and I swear to God, claims that I was offered N2 billion are just baseless allegations and rumours,” Yunusa-Ari said in an interview with BBC Hausa.
“Where will I take N2 billion to? I saw it on social media that I was offered N2 billion.
“I don’t regret announcing Binani winner of the election. Anything you do according to the law, you won’t regret it.”
Ari denied ever going into hiding, adding that he will honour the invitation of the police.
He said he wrote a letter to INEC and disclosed to the electoral body that the police invitation had become mandatory for him to honour.
The REC stirred controversy after announcing All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Binani as the winner when the collation of the results was yet to be completed.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the announcement null and void and summoned Ari to its headquarters in Abuja.
INEC wrote to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to prosecute Ari.
President Muhammadu Buhari also approved the suspension of Ari pending the completion of an investigation by the police.
INEC said it has no information on Ari’s whereabouts amid a probe by the police.
Police arrest suspended INEC Adamawa REC Ari
The police on Tuesday said it has arrested the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa Ari.
Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Tuesday that Yunusa-Ari is currently in Police custody and is being grilled to ascertain the motives behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State.
“In addition, other officials and individuals culpable in the saga are being interrogated by the team,” Adejobi said.
He disclosed that Ari was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja.
Adejobi said the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line
with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution.
“The Inspector-General of Police has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensuring that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice,” Adejobi said.
