The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Dahiru, has denied allegations that she paid some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission. This includes Hudu Yunusa Ari, a Resident Electoral Commissioner in the poll, to declare her winner of the election. Senator Aishatu Dahiru, also known as Binani, was declared the winner of the governorship election.
It was further reported that Ari had, on Sunday, usurped the INEC Returning Officer in the state and announced Binani the winner of the election. After the declaration, INEC suspended the collation of results and banned the REC from office.
However, hours after Ari’s declaration, a supposed video of him surfaced online showing the INEC REC. He was confessing to receiving a N2 billion bribe to announce Binani as the winner. In the video, Ari could be seen half-naked, his mouth bloodied. Moreover, he was speaking at gunpoint.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, Binani denied giving anyone a N2 billion bribe to derail the democratic process. She described the allegations against her as very bizarre, unfounded, and wild.
Her words
“I wish to reiterate that I am a democrat, that I have always been a committed democrat, and will never do anything to subvert the democratic process.” I am not a do-or-die politician. In the past, I have won elections into the House of Representatives and the Senate in a free and fair manner. “I urge all lovers of democracy to take a deeper interest in our electoral process and democracy, not only in Adamawa but in the whole country.”
Meanwhile, she thanks all her supporters, both within and outside Adamawa. She is appreciative of their unflinching support in the midst of half-truths and opposition smear propaganda.