The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly dismissed the Labour Party’s (LP) demand for the removal of its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in the aftermath of the 2023 elections. INEC maintained that the LP’s allegations lacked merit and called them both illogical and ridiculous.
During a press briefing on Thursday, the LP urged the international community to take “punitive action” against Yakubu and other senior INEC officials, citing reports from observer groups as evidence of misconduct during the elections.
Responding to the allegations, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated in an interview with NAN that the LP’s claims were baseless. Oyekanmi pointed out that INEC had accredited local and international election observers who were required to submit their reports to the commission according to specific rules and regulations.
“It is not within the jurisdiction of any election observer to indict INEC. Their role is to observe, make recommendations if necessary, but never to indict,” Oyekanmi emphasized.
Furthermore, Oyekanmi clarified that it was beyond the LP’s authority to demand the dismissal and prosecution of the INEC chairman based on the election’s outcome, especially considering the LP had participated in the election by fielding its own candidates.
The INEC spokesperson reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, and urged all political parties to respect the democratic process. Oyekanmi concluded by expressing confidence in the transparency and integrity of the 2023 elections conducted by INEC.