Victor EzejaThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has countered the call by the Labour Party (LP) for the sack and prosecution of its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, saying it has no logical basis to make such a demand.
Director General Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Akin Osuntokun, had during a press conference on Thursday, demanded the immediate dismissal and prosecution of the INEC chairman over his conduct of the 2023 general election.
Osuntokun called on the international community to take “punitive action” against Yakubu and other top INEC officials over their conduct in the 2023 elections.
READ ALSO: Labour Party Seeks Immediate Sack, Prosecution of INEC Chairman
He also called for a probe of the funds allocated to INEC by the Federal Government and donations from international donor agencies, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know the details of how they were disbursed.
Reacting to that, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in an interview with NAN said the “reasons adduced by the LP in making the latest and familiar demand are not only illogical but also ridiculous.”
Mr Onyekanmi said that election observers accredited by INEC are to operate under certain rules and regulations and are not meant to indict the electoral body.
According to him, part of the rules was for them to submit their reports to INEC.
“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,” he said.
The spokesman further questioned why the Labour Party should be calling a press conference on issues about the presidential election when it is already challenging the matter in court, adding that as a registered political party being regulated by INEC, it ought to restrict itself “to activities permitted under the rules and regulations governing the conduct of political parties.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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