“I am democrat, I’ll never subvert democratic process,” Binani refutes N2bn bribe claims.

Senator Aishatu Dahiru, also known as Binani, is running for governor of Adamawa State on the platform of the All Progressives Congresshas refuted claims that she paid INEC employees, including Resident Electoral Commissioner Hudu Yunusa Ari, to declare her the winner of the election.

Ari declared Binani the election’s victor on Sunday, usurping the INEC Returning Officer for the state. Following the announcement, INEC had halted the results’ collation process and expelled the REC.

Hours after Ari announced Binani as the winner, a fictitious video of him appeared online, purporting to show the INEC REC admitting to taking a N2 billion bribe.

Ari might be seen in the video speaking under duress while partially undressed and with blood on his mouth.

Binani, however, refuted providing anyone a N2 billion bribe to subvert the political process in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement read, “I NEVER DID, I would never do such. This said the statement was allegedly made when the officer was being tortured at gunpoint by the agents of the Adamawa State Governor and the Government House police team alongside their political thugs.

“I wish to reiterate that I am a democrat, I have always been a committed democrat and will never do anything to subvert democratic process. I am not a do-or-die politician. In the past I have won elections into the House of Representatives and the Senate in a free and fair manner.

“What happened in Adamawa was an unsuccessful attempt to subvert the will of the people. The REC was illegally told to stand down by two INEC national commissioners from Abuja who were supposed to be in Adamawa in a supervisory capacity. Even more curious is the nocturnal visit of some INEC national officers to Adamawa State Government house and bizarre declaration the same day after the visit that they have taken over the collation through the backdoor, with the Collation and Returning Officers selected by the Governor of Adamawa.

“The roles of these INEC officers from Abuja and the real mission of the two to the Government House should be of interest to all democrats.

“I urge all lovers of democracy to take a deeper interest in our electoral process and democracy not only in Adamawa but in the whole country.

“Meanwhile to all my supporters both within and outside Adamawa, I wish to use this opportunity to thank you for your unflinching support, in the midst of half-truths and opposition smear propaganda.”