‘We Stand By INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, He Should Not Resign’

Amidst controversies surrounding conduct of the 2023 presidential elections, a group has come forward to say: ‘We Stand By INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, He Should Not Resign’.

It says the election umpire, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has done no wrong that would warrant him throwing in the towel within 14 days as critics are demanding.

The group, the Nigerian Youth Network for Good Governance and Sustainable Democracy (NYNGGSD) also describes allegations against the person of Yakubu as outrageous and suspicious.

The group spoke via a statement by its Board Chairman, Mr Constantine Ikechukwu in Abuja earlier today, was referencing the stance of the Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs).

The coalition had yesterday said the INEC chairman should resign for acts of incompetence in the conduct of the polls.

In a statement signed jointly by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and the National Secretary of the Coalition, Alhaji Ali Abacha, it held that Yakubu failed to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a stance being contradicted by Ikechukwu.

According to Ikechukwu, international and local observers were unanimous that the INEC deployed the BVAS and that it played a credible role during the election by preventing proxy voting.

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‘We Stand By INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, he stated, expressing dismay that Yakubu allegedly “constituted himself into an obstruction to justice” , even as it said the issue was already a legal matter for which a civil society group may not have competences over.

“INEC announced the result of the 2023 presidential election and the political parties that disagreed with the outcome have filed their petitions which are now being heard by the Justices.

“Every self-respecting individual or group that understands the position of the law will not delve into matters contained in the petition that are before their Lords, the Justices, because it is sub-judice.

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“In any case, why is the CNPP crying more than the bereaved? The only umbrella body of the registered political parties in Nigeria is the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which has not issued any threat to INEC or any of its principal officers over the case at the Tribunal?

“The CNPP has an interest in the case and is clearly supporting a political party while pretending to be neutral”, it said.

Meanwhile, congratulations have continued to pour in the direction of former Minister of Niger Delta and ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on his election as President of the Senate.