The suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa Ari has insisted that he had no regret over his recent actions.

Remember, Ari announced Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the governorship election in the state while results are still being collated. Binani was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state in the 2023 election. Yunusa Ari disclosed this when he granted an interview to BBC Hausa.  “I told you I have no regrets whatsoever, when you do something in accordance with law, there are no regrets. On the police invitation, I must honour it, l never hide,” he said.

However, he denied allegations that he collected a bribe of N2 billion to make the declaration.

Binani was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state in the 2023 election who was eventually defeated by the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, after the national headquarters of INEC nullified Ari’s earlier declaration. Going further Ari insisted that the law gave him the authority to announce the results, adding that he was ready to hand himself over to the Nigeria Police who invited him. He said: “I did not solicit a single kobo as a bribe from Fintiri or Binani. I know collecting bribes is forbidden. I swear it is a mere allegation. What will I do with N2bn? I also saw that on social media.”

Ada Peter