The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to prove his innocence in court rather than addressing the public through a press conference.
The Chief Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, gave this advice during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Oyekanmi noted that since Yunusa-Ari has returned to the country, he should take advantage of the legal process to defend himself against allegations of electoral misconduct in the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.
Yunusa-Ari, who is facing a six-count charge over his controversial role in the election held on March 18, 2023, was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari after he prematurely declared Aisha Dahiru (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner while collation was still ongoing.
INEC had annulled the declaration and summoned him to its headquarters before suspending him.
Speaking at a news conference in Bauchi State on Saturday, Yunusa-Ari claimed he was denied a fair hearing and insisted that Binani won the election.
In response, Oyekanmi stated, “There is nothing new in what he said. The substantive matter of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election has been settled by the Supreme Court. Now that he is back in the country, the right place to prove his innocence is in court, not at a press conference.”
He also noted that Yunusa-Ari had attempted multiple times to avoid prosecution through legal maneuvers, including filing a suit to prevent his arrest, which was dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja in February 2024.
Recently, the Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to dismiss Yunusa-Ari and the RECs of Abia and Sokoto States over alleged misconduct.
