Suspended Adamawa REC Under Fire: INEC Throws Down Legal Gauntlet

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to defend himself in court rather than through public statements.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Oyekanmi emphasized that since Yunusa-Ari has returned to Nigeria, he should take advantage of the legal process to address allegations of electoral misconduct during the 2023 Adamawa governorship election.

Yunusa-Ari faces six charges related to unlawful actions during the March 18, 2023, election. He was suspended in April 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari after prematurely declaring Aisha Dahiru (Binani) of the APC as the winner while collation was still in progress.

INEC swiftly nullified the declaration, summoned Yunusa-Ari to its Abuja headquarters, and later suspended him.

At a news conference in Bauchi State on Saturday, Yunusa-Ari criticized his suspension, claiming he was denied a fair hearing and insisting that Binani rightfully won the election.

Responding to these claims, Oyekanmi dismissed them as baseless, urging Yunusa-Ari to prove his innocence in court rather than through media engagements.

“The substantive matter of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election has already gone through the full judicial process—trial tribunal, appeal tribunal, and Supreme Court,” Oyekanmi said.

“Now that he is back in the country, the proper avenue to justify his actions is through the court, not a press conference.”

In February 2024, Yunusa-Ari filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking protection from arrest, detention, or prosecution. However, Justice James Omotosho dismissed the case, ruling that he had no legal grounds for immunity.

Furthermore, in January 2025, Yunusa-Ari requested the Adamawa High Court to indefinitely adjourn the case against him, but the request was denied.

Recently, the Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s recommendation to dismiss Yunusa-Ari alongside the RECs of Abia and Sokoto States over allegations of misconduct.