Former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Hudu Ari, has reiterated his claim that Senator Aisha Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial election, was the rightful winner of the poll.
Speaking to journalists at his private residence in Bauchi State on Saturday, Ari swore by God that his actions were based on truth and evidence.
He insisted that he possessed documentary proof showing Binani defeated the incumbent governor, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ari, who was suspended in 2023 and officially dismissed last week following National Assembly approval, expressed frustration that his evidence of electoral irregularities was ignored by both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
Holding a copy of the Qur’an during the press briefing, he maintained that his actions were in good faith and aligned with electoral guidelines.
He alleged that he and other electoral officials were pressured to declare Governor Fintiri the winner under threats to their personal safety.
Ari further accused INEC’s Head of ICT in Adamawa State, Bala Aji, of manipulating the election process by handing over about 20,000 election documents to the governor