The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the dismissed Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to present his case in court rather than making unsubstantiated claims in the media.
Yunusa-Ari was removed from his position following the controversy surrounding his actions during the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.
Reports indicate that Yunusa-Ari fled the country amid the fallout from the election but recently resurfaced to challenge his dismissal. He claimed to have evidence supporting his controversial decision to declare the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as the winner of the election.
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During his trial last year, Yunusa-Ari reportedly went into hiding, according to the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), CSP Moses Jolugbo, who testified before the Adamawa State High Court of Justice. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Usman Suleiman, informed the court that Yunusa-Ari was in Niger Republic, acting on instructions from the sacked REC’s son.
When asked about Yunusa-Ari’s recent allegations, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated that the former REC should address the charges against him in court rather than through media statements.
Oyekanmi said, “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.”
He added, “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 for the due process of law and not a press conference.”
INEC’s response underscores its commitment to due process and the rule of law, emphasizing that Yunusa-Ari’s claims should be addressed within the judicial system rather than through public statements. The case continues to draw attention as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s electoral accountability efforts.
