Police Grant Adamawa REC Ari Bail

The suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa Ari, has been released on administrative bail.

The development comes days after Ari was arrested by the Nigerian police force and grilled to ascertain the motives behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State.

A police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed in a statement on Friday that Ari has been granted bail while investigations are ongoing on the matter.

Adejobi added that the suspended REC is expected to report to the police headquarters every weekday.

Ari stirred controversy after announcing All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru as the winner when the collation of the results was yet to be completed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) then nullified Ari’s declaration and suspended him.

President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a full investigation into the electoral commissioner and the security personnel that were around him when he made the declaration.

Ari had also recently stated that he never regretted announcing Binani as the winner of the 2023 governorship election in the state.

“I didn’t ask Binani and Fintiri for a single penny.” It is against my religion to collect money from someone to help him do anything, and I swear to God, claims that I was offered N2 billion are just baseless allegations and rumours,” Yunusa-Ari said in an interview with BBC Hausa.

“Where will I take N2 billion to? I saw it on social media that I was offered N2 billion.

“I don’t regret announcing Binani winner of the election. Anything you do according to the law, you won’t regret it.”