LPPCO Calls For Prosecution Of INEC Chairman

The Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, LPPCO, has called for the immediate prosecution of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over flaws in the 2023 presidential election.

Director General of the LPPCO, Mr Akin Osuntokun made call while presenting the final election observer reports, titled “A Vindication of a heavily compromised election” at a news conference in Abuja.

Mr. Osuntokun stressed that the demand followed the final report of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and the International Community regarding what it described as the desecration of the presidential election of 25th February, 2023.

“We demand for the immediate dismissal from office and prosecution of Prof Yakubu Mahmood, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the reports on the 2023 presidential election” Mr. Osuntokun added.

He also called for a forensic financial investigation of the billions of naira disbursed and donated to INEC by the government and the international community.

“There is no doubt that the 2023 elections represent a significant and overwhelming watershed in our country’s electoral, political and development history, and that this time, the entire nation and the international community also stand determined to ensure that electoral fraud and the manipulation of the true will of the people will not stand as the foundation for bad governance in the past, had been concretised, by the acceptance of such illegality and conspiracy”.

“Having concluded the hearing stage, at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, the attention of the people and the international community remains transfixed on the judiciary and with it the expectation that the glaring wrongs as documented by all Observer groups, local and international will be corrected for the good of the nation” Osuntokun noted.

Mr. Osuntokun who expressed dissatisfaction over the negative reaction of the opposition party and some Nigerians over the European Union’s report on the 2023 elections urged protesters to desist from going to the EU’s office.

“We commend, in particular, without equivocation, the courage, sense of focus and clarity of thought, expressed by various Election Observer groups, local and international, that were duly accredited to monitor the elections.

“The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, The United States National Democratic Institute, NDI & International Republican Institute, IRI Joint International Election Observer Mission, The European Union Election Observer Mission, Commonwealth Observer Group, The African Union AU, ECOWAS and all other regional and local Observers, all deserve commendation.

“Their doggedness in field engagement, despite the onslaught of violence, inducement, manipulation and all manner of evil, as witnessed in the elections, will serve not only as an unbiased record of the tragic events but as motivation for its logical conclusion and inevitable resolution, according to the will of the people.”

Osuntokun appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take administrative steps that reflect the reality of Nigerans, cut the cost of governance and reduce the number of ministers to 36.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji