Sacked Adamawa REC, Hudu Ari, Insists Binani Won Governorship Election, Alleges INEC Complicity  

Barely a week after the National Assembly approved his dismissal, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Ari, has maintained that Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections, was the rightful winner of the poll.  

Ari, who was suspended after controversially declaring Binani as the winner while collation was still ongoing, reiterated his stance in a recent interview at his residence in Bauchi. Holding a copy of the Holy Qur’an, he swore that he had documentary evidence to prove Binani’s victory over incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  

He alleged that there was undue pressure on him and other officials to declare Fintiri the winner or risk personal security threats. According to him, both the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the Election Tribunal ignored his claims of electoral irregularities.  

Ari further accused the Head of ICT in Adamawa INEC, Bala Aji, of compromising the process by allegedly surrendering election documents to Governor Fintiri. He claimed that he, along with security officials, discovered over 20,000 election documents being tampered with in a private house linked to the governor.  

“Bala Aji was also giving our staff money in foreign currency on the day of the election. It was an abuse of his office. I reported to INEC headquarters, but the report was swept under the carpet,” he alleged.  

Expressing frustration over what he described as a lack of fair hearing, Ari lamented that his dismissal was politically motivated. He added that the media trial had damaged his reputation, denying claims that he collected ₦2 billion from any politician.  

On his next course of action, Ari said he is consulting with his family to decide whether to seek legal redress.  

His claims have reignited debates over the integrity of the Adamawa governorship election, raising concerns about electoral transparency, institutional accountability, and the role of security agencies in the electoral process.