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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, has said he has no regrets announcing Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in the state.
Ari stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday.
He, however, denied allegations that he collected a bribe of N2 billion to make the declaration.
Binani, the Senator representing Adamawa Central contested against the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmadu Fintiri, who was finally declared winner by INEC after the April 15 supplementary election.
Ari said he did not regret his decision to announce the results while the collation process of the supplementary election was still ongoing.
The suspended REC said the law gave him the authority to announce the results, adding that he was ready to hand himself over to the police, who had already invited him.
“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 N2 billion? I also saw that on social media,” he said.
Asked whether he regretted his action, Ari said: “I told you I have no regrets whatsoever, when you do something in accordance with the law, there are no regrets. On the police invitation, I must honour it, l never hide.”