Photo: twitter/inecnigeria
Labour Party, yesterday, demanded immediate dismissal and prosecution of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for allegedly superintending the worst election in Nigeria’s history, on February 25, 2023.
Director General of the Obi-Datti Campaign Organisation, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja. He said: “If you go to equity, you go with a clean hand. INEC and security agencies have already taken steps to prosecute the Residential Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa.
“As far as we are concerned, what the REC did was like what Yakubu did at the national level. So, if that is the case, we are also thinking that Yakubu should be prosecuted and even dismissed.”
Reminded that Yakubu’s position is protected by the constitution, and only the President, with concurrence from the National Assembly, can remove him, Osuntokun said: “So also is the position of a CBN governor; it is constitutionally guaranteed. That is why he (President) called it suspension. Ideally, somebody who has committed the abuse of office INEC Chairman committed should resign, or it means that of the CBN and EFCC is selective.”
He added: “If INEC is not credible, how can we expect results emanating from that same group to be credible? At the very minimum, if Yakubu has any shame, he would have resigned. But if the President has the political will, there are ways to go round it. He can be suspended from office just like what he did to the CBN governor.”
But Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement, said: “It is not within LP’s jurisdiction to demand dismissal and prosecution of the INEC Chairman over the outcome of an election in which the party fielded candidates.
“Interestingly, arising from the outcome of the same 2023 general election, LP has now produced one state governor, eight senators, 35 House of Representatives members and 38 members of state Houses of Assembly.”
He added: “It is surprising and strange that a political party that is in court to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election would still go about openly advocating issues before the court at press conferences, which it knows is subjudice.
“Labour Party is one of the 18 political parties registered and regulated by INEC in Nigeria. The party will do well by restricting itself to activities permitted under rules and regulations governing the conduct of political parties.”
