Days after the National Assembly sanctioned his removal as a Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barr Hudu Ari, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, has firmly reiterated his belief that Aisha Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the rightful winner of the disputed 2023 Adamawa governorship election.
Speaking to a group of journalists at his private residence in Bauchi on Saturday, the dismissed INEC official shared his perspective on the controversial election result declaration and the events surrounding it.
A visibly frustrated Hudu Ari maintained that he possessed substantial documentary evidence proving that Binani had defeated the incumbent Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the election process.
According to Ari, both INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu and the Election Tribunal dismissed his evidence concerning irregularities in the election.
While holding a copy of the Holy Qur’an, Ari recounted the pressure placed on him and other INEC officials to announce Fintiri as the winner, warning that his security would be at risk if he refused to comply. Swearing an oath on the Qur’an, he asserted that his actions had been in good faith and followed election guidelines.
He also revealed that his Head of ICT had behaved improperly by surrendering roughly 20,000 election documents to the Governor’s residence. “We received reports,” he explained, “and after a visit to the Governor’s private house, we found government officials working with the documents, which were crucial to the election results.”
Ari further noted the misappropriation of election materials by the ICT head, including the distribution of BVAS machines and foreign currency to INEC staff on election day. He called the actions a betrayal of public trust.
“I took steps against the allegations,” he stated. “I expected INEC headquarters to act quickly, but instead, the reports I sent were ignored, and my complaints swept under the rug. It was one of the most unforgettable experiences.”
Ari expressed frustration over the lack of attention given to his claims of vote buying, which he had hoped would trigger immediate action from INEC. The dismissed REC also criticized the treatment he received from both INEC and the Election Tribunal, claiming that his evidence supporting Binani’s victory was ignored.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ari stated that while his dismissal by the President did not affect him, the media’s portrayal of him had caused lasting damage to his reputation. He also clarified that he had never accepted N2 billion from any politician.
“My sack does not bother me,” he said, “but the media trial has dented my image. I did not collect N2 billion from any politician.”
Ari concluded by urging Nigerians to take responsibility for the country’s future. He also confirmed he was consulting with his family about potential legal action.
Despite the controversies surrounding the election, Ari emphasized his success in overseeing the Presidential and National Assembly elections, only facing issues during the gubernatorial and state assembly elections in 69 polling units.
