2023 Elections: INEC Chairman Threatens Lawsuit Over Allegations Of Infractions

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has threatened to file a lawsuit against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in response to the latter's recent demands for him to step down.

Following the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25, PDP alleged that Yakubu was involved in infractions and should step down over his handling of the polls.

In his reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, advised the party to proceed to court and present evidence to support their claim.

“The latest call by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, just like it did previously for the resignation of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC is misplaced. 

“To be sure, the PDP failed to provide any evidence to substantiate the allegations of Yakubu’s ‘brazen violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, and criminal manipulation and alteration of election results’.

“The PDP also did not give the evidence to prove its claims that Prof. Yakubu ‘sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units.’

“Besides, the ‘several evidences’ that the PDP claimed ‘abound in the six geo-political zones of the country where winning figures scored by the PDP were switched in favour of the APC’ were also not laid bare.

“To be sure, the Commission does not rig elections. Rather, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS has, since its introduction, among other innovations, ensured the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only properly registered voters are allowed to vote on Election Day.

“It is common knowledge that the PDP has rejected the outcome of the presidential election and has vowed to challenge it in court. 

“The path of honour for the party, therefore, is to pursue its case in court, armed with all the evidences at its disposal and wait for the court’s decision. 

“But going about canvassing the same issues the party intends to plead in court on the pages of newspapers and calling for the resignation of the INEC Chairman is like putting the cart before the horse.

“More importantly, the PDP is hereby reminded that making libellous allegations against the person of the INEC Chairman is actionable.

“The party should henceforth desist from the practice”, he said.