Hudu Ari, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, has expressed his concerns over not being given a fair hearing before his dismissal. Ari was recently removed from his position due to alleged electoral offenses, but he insists that he has substantial evidence to support his innocence.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
According to Hudu, he wrote several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain his side of the story, but his letters were rejected. He also claimed that the tribunal overseeing the case between Aisha Binani and Ahmadu Fintiri refused to accept his evidence.
He said, “The dismissal is not my problem. The civil service is governed by civil service rules, procedures, and services. In law, there is what we call the golden rule of natural justice which says that you must be heard. Even God will never punish anybody without sending the messages, the prophets, and the scriptures.”
Ari displayed documents he claimed were authentic result sheets, along with letters he sent to INEC, and stated that he had no regrets for his actions. He alleged that some INEC staff were compromised, beaten, and threatened during the 2023 electoral process. Hudu also claimed that he was tried by the media and emphasized that he would act the same way again, as he believed he was on the side of truth.
“The refusal of INEC to collect my letters and then the tribunal said they are not using my evidence. Even as an ordinary judge, what do you say to that?” he asked.
Holding a copy of the Holy Quran, Hudu said, “Wallahi, whatever I do, I do it within the bounds of the Quran. We have to remember the last day.”
In a surprising statement, Ari announced that Aisha Binani won the election against Ahmadu Fintiri, and he is currently consulting with family and friends to decide on his next course of action. Hudu’s dismissal has sparked controversy, with many questioning the fairness of the process. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen what actions Hudu will take next.