Call for INEC Chairman’s resignation by PDP, LP, misplaced, says Yakubu’s CPS

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has faulted the call by the Labour Party, LP, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign as misplaced.
The Commission has similarly called the allegation by Senator Dino Melaye that the INEC Chairman allocated scores to parties as unfounded and irresponsible.
The Commission said these in a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi in Abuja.
The statement declared that contrary to the insinuation by both parties, results emanating from the States point to a free, fair and credible process.
It explained that there are laid down procedures for aggrieved parties or candidates to follow when they are dissatisfied about the outcome of an election.
Such procedures, the statement said, did not include calling on the INEC Chairman to resign or for the election to be cancelled.
It stressed that aggrieved parties are free to approach the courts to ventilate their concerns and wait for the matter to be resolved.
It pointedly declared that making inciting comments capable of causing violence or unrest is unacceptable.
Stating that the 2023 General election processes are in their final stages of completion, INEC said it is only fair for aggrieved parties to allow the conclusion of the process and approach the courts with their evidences to pursue their cases.
The statement by Oyekanmi reads, “The call by the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic Democratic Party on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign is misplaced.
“The allegation by Dino Melaye that the INEC Chairman allocated scores to parties is unfounded and irresponsible.
“At the same time, contrary to the insinuation by both parties, results emanating from the States point to a free, fair and credible process.
“There are laid down procedures for aggrieved parties or candidates to follow when they are dissatisfied about the outcome of an election.
“Such procedures do not include calling on the INEC Chairman to resign or for the election to be cancelled.
“To be sure, aggrieved parties are free to approach the courts to ventilate their concerns and wait for the matter to be resolved.
“Making inciting comments capable of causing violence or unrest is unacceptable.
“The 2023 General election processes are in their final stages of completion. It is only fair for aggrieved parties to allow the conclusion of the process and approach the courts with their evidences to pursue their cases”, it said.