Corrupt politicians plot to oust INEC president — IPAC – The Sun Nigeria

From Okwe Obi, abuja

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has claimed that corrupt politicians who conspired to rig next month’s elections were behind the travails of the Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, with the aim of removing him from office. office.

Yakubu was cited in the lawsuit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/47/2022, in the Abuja High Court, by Somadike Uzoabaka against the Attorney General of the Federation and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, seeking an order injunction ordering you to resign for allegedly failing to declare your assets to the Code of Conduct Office as required by law.

But Judge Maryam Hassan quashed the false asset declaration allegations and prevented security officers from investigating it.

IPAC National Secretary Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, who has passed a vote of confidence on the election referee and Judge Hassan, said anonymous politicians were displeased with INEC’s arrangements to conduct a poll credible, especially its decision to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the verification of the authenticity of Permanent Voter Credentials (PVCs).

Dantalle frowned at the incessant attacks on commission offices in Zamfara, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun, Osun, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, FCT, Ondo, Abia states, resulting in the destruction of PVC, ballot boxes , voting booths, megaphones, generators. , electoral bags, water storage tanks among others.

“The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) today held an Emergency General Assembly meeting on crucial national issues and assessed emerging threats to the 2023 general elections, in particular the major plots by anti-democratic forces to oust the president of the Commission Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC). , Professor Mahmood Yakubu from office on frivolous charges of false asset declarations just weeks before the general election, attacks on commission offices in some parts of the country that destroyed confidential and non-confidential election materials and other property, including permanent voter cards (PVC), ballot boxes, voting booths, megaphones, electric power generators, electoral bags, water storage tanks, office furniture and accessories in the states of Zamfara, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun, Osun, Anambra , Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, FCT, Ondo, Abia, etc. and campaign of violence.

“Despite these unprecedented attacks on its facilities and the enormous costs of replacing them immediately, as time is running out, INEC has remained resolute, undaunted and courageous in deploying technology in conducting free, fair general elections. , credible, transparent and inclusive. to the peaceful transfer of power.

“INEC’s position on the deployment of technology in the conduct of the 2023 general elections is in line with IPAC’s position.

“Consequently, all political presidents under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) reaffirm their confidence in the Independent National Election Commission led by Professor Mahmood Yakubu to carry out the 2023 general elections.

“IPAC is satisfied with the preparations, arrangements and steps taken so far by the commission to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent, inclusive, peaceful and generally acceptable elections, in particular its decision to implement the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System. (BVAS), an electronic device designed to read permanent voter cards and authenticate voters using the voter’s fingerprints.

“It is this improved technology in the conduct of elections that triggered the attacks on the INEC facilities and the large plots to remove their president just weeks before the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for February 25, 2023. , by those who benefited from highly flawed elections and want to maintain the status quo that impeded the nation’s democracy and impoverished the population,” he said.

He called on the Department of State Services (DSS), Police Force, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), to put an end to the widespread killings and kidnappings, adding that the peace agreement signed by political actors was not delivering results. wanted.

“We are deeply concerned about the level of insecurity that is spreading in the country in most states, where governors are using sponsored pincers to stop and destroy campaign materials and the offices of opposition political parties in their respective states. while the security agencies are powerless despite the guarantees of the IGP, DG, SSS, NIA securing all parties and warning Governors to destroy and stop the activities of all party candidates.

“To make matters worse, all parties signed the Peace Accord to comply with the code of conduct for the peaceful conduct of the campaign during the elections. So far, the peace agreement signed by the parties seems not to be effective because nobody is calling the actors to order.”