Calls For Sack Of INEC Chairman Misguided – AYCF

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has condemned in strong terms calls by another Arewa Coalition for the sack of the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, the national president of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said; “We have followed with keen interest an ongoing smear campaign and the call for the sack of INEC national chairman by a group of rabble-rousers masquerading as campaigners for electoral sanity and accountability in INEC, when in fact they are attention – seekers.

“As a group of progressive-minded advocates, we totally disagree with the so-called Arewa Coalition calling for the sack of the INEC chairman, the Arewa Citizens for Good Governance did not bother to check how much spectacular achievements INEC made under Prof. Yakubu before their charade of spurious claims and allegations.

“As a matter of fact, there has never been a comparatively better strategy of Nigerian voter education efforts than the one launched by the leadership of the electoral umpire in recent years.

“The circumstances under which INEC has been effectively  planning, coordinating and generally handling its operations is unprecedented, considering the financial difficulties currently facing Nigeria due to rampaging inflation.

“The revolution in election results collections, using the BVA and other electronic transmission devices is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s election history. The electoral umpire has proved its neutrality  in elections since 2015, when even the current administration lost out in some elections. No manager of the electoral umpire has ever dared to let work so efficiently that even the party in power could lose in some instances.

“Professor Yakubu has built a name of transparency  and accountability in the conduct of elections and efficiency in the choice of his team for all categories of elections over the years and we dare say he would sustain the tempo.