The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the dismissed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to defend himself in court rather than holding press conferences.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Secretary to the INEC Chairman, made the statement in Abuja on Monday, February 10. He urged Yunusa-Ari to utilize the legal process to address allegations of misconduct during the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.
Yunusa-Ari faces six charges related to irregularities in the March 18, 2023 election. He was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2023 after declaring Aisha Dahiru, known as Binani, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election while results were still being collated. INEC nullified the announcement, summoned Yunusa-Ari to its headquarters, and later suspended him.
At a recent press conference in Bauchi State, Yunusa-Ari claimed he had been denied a fair hearing and insisted that Binani won the election. However, Oyekanmi rejected his claims, stressing that the proper place to address the issue was in court.
“There is nothing new in what he said. The main issue regarding the 2023 Adamawa State governorship election has already been determined through the judicial process, from the trial tribunal to the appeal tribunal, and finally settled by the Supreme Court,” Oyekanmi stated.
He pointed out that Yunusa-Ari’s actions during the election are under litigation in the High Court in Yola, making it inappropriate for INEC to make further comments. “Now that he is back in the country, the right place to prove his innocence and the propriety of his actions is through the legal process, not a press conference,” he added.
Yunusa-Ari has previously claimed that he tried to explain his actions to INEC through letters, alleging that officials were pressured to declare Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner, and insisted he deserved a fair hearing.
Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by Yunusa-Ari in February 2024, seeking protection from arrest, detention, or prosecution. Justice James Omotosho ruled there was no legal basis to grant him immunity from prosecution.
In January 2025, Yunusa-Ari requested the Adamawa High Court to adjourn his case indefinitely. Meanwhile, the Senate recently approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to dismiss Yunusa-Ari and the RECs of Abia and Sokoto States over allegations of misconduct.
