The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has warned against attempts to undermine the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.
The group urged the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security agencies to ensure that the peace and stability of the country are not jeopardised.
In a statement, the NDYC’s National Coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, stated that recent developments have revealed an orchestrated plot by some politicians to heat up the polity by inciting unrest, sponsoring miscreants to stage protests against INEC and creating an artificial crisis aimed at undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
The group condemned the allegations of corruption and political interference in the recall process of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing them as a means to mislead the public and derail the legitimate exercise of constitutional rights by her constituents.
The NDYC urged patriotic Nigerians to reject any attempt to discredit INEC and manipulate public opinion.
Additionally, the NDYC urged INEC to remain steadfast in its constitutional mandate, conduct its investigations with diligence and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes.
The group stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not be derailed by the selfish ambitions of a few individuals.
The statement reads: “The recall of any elected representative is a constitutional process enshrined in Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It is a democratic mechanism that empowers the electorate to express their dissatisfaction with their representatives through a legal and procedural framework.
“The move to recall Senator Natasha was initiated by her own constituents, and INEC, as the regulatory body, is duty-bound to investigate and verify the authenticity of the recall petition in accordance with the law. Any attempt to interfere with this process, whether through intimidation or misinformation, amounts to an attack on the rule of law and the democratic rights of the people.”
