CNPP Scribe, Chief Willy Ezugwu

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organizations (CNCSOs), have suspended their planned protest against the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, calling for his resignation.

The CNPP and the CSOs had two weeks ago, issued a 14-day ultimatum to Prof. Yakubu to step aside or be democratically and legally forced to do so through mass protest.

In a statement jointly signed by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and the National Secretary of CSO Coalition, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they explained that the suspension followed intelligent report that certain interests have mobilized hoodlums to disrupt the groups’ protest action.

The CNPP and the civil society groups said they have opted to get answers to their questions through other means.

In the statement, they explained that there was credible intelligence that certain interests were working to “hijack our initial actions against the Commission.”

Ezugwu said: “Even though the plots against our action were not traced to the Commission itself, there are interests within the polity willing to cause havoc.

“It is therefore our resolve to suspend the protest action to avoid imminent bloodbath and explore other legal and democratic means to engage the electoral body.”

He added that “the CNPP and the CSOs are therefore opting for alternative means of dealing with the issues we have raised without endangering the life of any citizen.”