The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has threatened to sue the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for libel over their recent call for his resignation.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Onyekanmi, made the statement on Friday, March 10, 2023, on behalf of Professor Yakubu, who has come under intense scrutiny since the conclusion of the recent presidential and national assembly elections.
In response to the PDP’s call for his resignation, Professor Yakubu has maintained that the allegations against him are baseless and unfounded. He has also called on the PDP to present the evidence they claim to have in a court of law rather than subjecting the process to a media trial.
Mr. Onyekanmi, in a statement released on Friday, March 10, 2023, stated that the PDP failed to provide any convincing evidence to back up their claims that Professor Yakubu violated the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, and engaged in criminal manipulation and alteration of election results.
He further stated that the commission does not rig elections and that the BVAS system has ensured the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only properly registered voters are allowed to vote on election day.
Mr. Onyekanmi also warned the PDP to desist from making libelous allegations against the INEC Chairman, as such actions are actionable in a court of law.
It is noteworthy that the PDP has rejected the outcome of the presidential election and has vowed to challenge it in court. Professor Yakubu has been at the center of controversy since the elections, with various political parties and stakeholders expressing divergent opinions about his conduct and the credibility of the electoral process.
As the dust settles on the recently concluded elections, it remains to be seen what actions the PDP will take in response to Professor Yakubu’s threat of legal action.
