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My decision to announce Binani winner of Adamawa election lawful, Yunusa-Ari insists
Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State, has maintained that his illegal declaration of Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the governorship election in the state is backed by law.
Yunusa-Ari had declared Binani winner of the election while collation was still ongoing and the incumbent governor, Umaru Fintri was leading the race.
The declaration was, however, overturned by INEC and Fintri subsequently announced winner after the completion of results collation.
But the suspended REC insisted that his action was lawful, even as he denied the widespread allegation that he received N2 billion to announce Binani as winner.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Hudu said he had no regrets whatsoever about the action he took by making the announcement in the middle of that election.
He maintained that his announcing the result was his responsibility which was backed by law.
He disclosed that he was ready to present himself to the police this week, even as he argued that neither the DSS nor the Nigerian Police came searching for him as was widely discussed.
According to him, “I never said the Governor bribed anyone, but I knew there were allegations.
“I swear, I had nothing to do with either Binani or Fintiri. All these stories about the N2 billion bribe were social media hype.
“I have no regrets whatsoever, when you do something that was allowed to be done in a democracy, there are no regrets,” he said.
