Binani on N2b bribe: DSS officer tortured to lie against me

Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani), the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa has said an officer of Department of State Service, DSS who alleged that she offered N2 billion bribe to be declared governor-elect of the state last Sunday did so under torture.

A video had circulated following the controversial declaration of Binani as governor-elect by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari of Adamawa showing a man said to be DSS official confessing to the N2 billion bribe under torture.

Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had also alleged that Binani bribed INEC officials with N2 billion to be declared governor.

But while reacting to the allegations on Tuesday, Binani said the DSS official was tortured by thugs, state government agents, police officers attached to Adamawa Government House to level the allegation of bribery against her.

While describing the allegations, Binani said she is as a democrat, who will never do anything to subvert democratic process, while recalling that she had won elections into the House of Representatives and the Senate in a free and fair manner.

She said: “My attention has been drawn to a very bizarre, unfounded wild allegations purportedly made by an officer of the Department of State Services to the effort that, I senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed ( Binani), gave out the sum of N2billion to procure a favourable declaration as governor -elect to some unnamed INEC staff. I never did; I would never do such.

“This statement was allegedly made when the officer was being tortured at gunpoint by the agents of the Adamawa State governor and the Government House police team alongside their political thugs.

“ I wish to reiterate that I am a democrat. I have always been a committed democrat and will never do anything to subvert democratic process. I am not do-or-die politician.

“In the past, I have won elections into the House of Representatives and the Senate in free and fair manner. What happened in Adamawa was an unsuccessful attempt to subvert the will of the people. The REC was illegally told to stand down by two INEC national commissioners from Abuja who were supposed to be in Adamawa in a supervisory capacity.

“ Even more curious is the nocturnal visit of some INEC national officers to Adamawa State Government House and bizarre declaration same day after the visit that they have taken over the collation through the backdoor, with collation and returning officers selected by the governor of Adamawa.

“The roles of these INEC officers from Abuja and the real mission of the two to the Government house should be of interest to all democrats.”

Binani, who thanked her supporters, urged all lovers of democracy to take deeper interest in the just-concluded Adamawa poll.

She said:” 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, to all my supporters both within and outside Adamawa, I wish to use this opportunity to thank you for your unflinching support, in the midst of half-truths and opposition smear propaganda.”