By Ihie Grace
The Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to step down.
This was stated during a press briefing on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, as the opposition parties said they had no trust in INEC and that Saturday’s elections were not free, fair, and transparent, as results are doctored and a call for the cancellation of the February 25, 2023 elections.
According to the parties, INEC introduced the BVAS to checkmate over-voting and other irregularities that had characterised Nigeria’s elections. Still, there are reports that the technology’s servers were manipulated to compromise the election results.
LP chairman said, “This is the time of great test of your integrity; use your office to save Nigeria from this electoral mismanagement.”
He added That This election is not free and fair . The total number of canceled results has rendered the election inconclusive.
“We have concluded that the presidential election has been irretrievably compromised, and we have lost faith in the entire process. The LP, PDP, ADC, and other allied parties shall not be part of the ongoing process.
“We demand that this sham of an election be immediately cancelled. We also call for a fresh election to be carried out within the orbit of the electoral act and in accordance with the laid down INEC procedures for the conduct of the election.
“We call on the international communities to note that the results being called at the national collation centre are heavily doctored and do not reflect the wishes and expectations of Nigerians.
“We declare a vote of no confidence on the INEC chairman by his conduct and his reactions to the complaint by the disenfranchised political parties. We believe that he lacks the integrity and moral standing to continue to oversee the election process to a conclusion.
“We are therefore calling on the INEC chairman to step aside from his role as INEC chairman and for a credible personality outside the commission to take his place.