‘I have no regrets, acted according to the Law,’ Detained Adamawa REC

At the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the police on Tuesday started questioning suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner Hudu Yunusa-Ari about alleged irregularities during the state’s April 15 supplementary governorship election.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, confirmed to our correspondent that Yunusa-Ari and other suspects were being interrogated by police while being held in jail.

This occurred at the same time that the suspended Adamawa REC claimed in an interview with BBC Hausa that he had no remorse for declaring Aisha Dahiru, often known as Binani, the winner of the governorship race in Adamawa State in 2023.

According to reports, Yunusa-Ari caused controversy for announcing Binani while the results were still being tallied.

The Independent National Electoral Commission then made a statement declaring the REC’s declaration to be invalid. Yunusa-Ari was then sent a summons to appear at INEC’s Abuja headquarters, but she did not show up.

The electoral umpire also requested in a letter to the Inspector General of Police that the police conduct an investigation into any suspected electoral breaches and, if found guilty, bring charges against Yunusa-Ari.

The electoral umpire said that it was unaware of the location of the suspended Adamawa REC after receiving the letter, and the IG subsequently requested an investigating team to engage with INEC on the case.

Confirming the arrest of Yunusa-Ari and other suspects on Tuesday, the Force spokesman, Adejobi, said, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby confirms the arrest of Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State REC, who was alleged to have announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress winner of the gubernatorial election during the recently concluded supplementary elections following calls for his arrest and investigation by the INEC on the basis of alleged impropriety in the course of supplementary gubernatorial polls in the state.

“Barrister Yunusa-Ari, who was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, is currently in police custody and he’s being grilled to ascertain the motives and motivations 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.

“The Inspector-General of Police 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 IG 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.”

Before being detained, Yunusa-Ari claimed in an interview with BBC Hausa on Tuesday that he had declared APC candidate Binani the governor-elect of Adamawa state in accordance with the law. However, this declaration was later overturned by the national headquarters of the electoral empire in Abuja.

He said, “I don’t have the papers with me here but both in the main and supplementary elections, Binani scored 428,173 while Fintiri got 422,303 votes.

“I have no regrets at all as I acted under the law; it is the law that warranted what I did and it shall absolve me.”

On accusations of receiving N2bn to pull off the electoral stunt, Ari told BBC Hausa that, “I never demanded any gratification from either of Binani or Fintiri. None of the duo sent anything to me; if they had done so, by now they will be demanding their money back.”