INEC Hits Back at Labour Party’s Demand to Remove Yakubu from Office, Citing Lack of Valid Reasons

In Abuja, on Thursday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, responded to the Labour Party’s demand for the removal of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC’s Chairman, based on the results of the 2023 general election.

According to Mr. Oyekanmi, the Independent National Electoral Commission has clarified that the Labour Party lacks sufficient grounds to make such a call.

“The reasons adduced by the LP in making the latest and familiar demand are not only illogical but also ridiculous,” he said.

He mentioned that INEC had granted accreditation to election observers, both local and international, to oversee elections in accordance with specific rules and regulations.

“Under these rules, they were required to submit their respective reports to the commission. Such reports may or may not include their recommendations.

“Therefore, it is not within the remit of any election observer whatsoever to indict INEC. They are to observe and make recommendations if they have any, but never to indict.

“In the same manner, it is also not within the LP’s jurisdiction to demand the 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, the LP has now produced one State Governor, eight Senators, 35 House of Representatives members, and 38 members of the State Houses of Assembly,” he said.

“The LP is one of the 18 political parties registered and being regulated by INEC in Nigeria.

Related News

• Tinubu Sends Letter to Senate, Requests Extra $800m Loan from World Bank.
• Engineer Warns of Potential Increase in Emigration from Nigeria
• Reps Compete for Desirable Committee Positions Ahead of Speaker Abbas’ Unveiling on July 27

“The party will do well by restricting itself to activities permitted under the rules and regulations governing the conduct of political parties,” he said.

During a media briefing in Abuja, the Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Otumba Akin Osuntokun, stated that the Labour Party (LP) had made a demand on Thursday for a forensic investigation into the utilization of the budget and donor funds allocated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 general election.

Mr. Osuntokun emphasized that Nigerians have a right to know the specifics of how these funds were allocated and spent. This information was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).