The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has condemned the recent comments made by former Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The group, in a statement on Friday signed by its National Coordinator, Israel Uwejeyan, described the comments as “reckless, self-serving, and politically motivated” aimed at casting aspersions on the integrity of INEC.
The NDYC noted that INEC conducted the 2023 General Election under challenging circumstances and delivered a credible, transparent, and accepted outcome.
The group commended Professor Yakubu for his courage, competence, and neutrality in managing one of the most difficult electoral cycles in Nigeria’s history.
The NDYC urged INEC and its leadership to remain focused and resolute in fulfilling their constitutional mandate to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
The group also called on Amaechi and El-Rufai to desist from undermining Nigeria’s democratic institutions in pursuit of their agendas.
The statement read: “We must remind Nigerians that INEC is a national institution whose credibility must not be sacrificed at the altar of individual ambition. Professor Yakubu has demonstrated uncommon courage, competence, and neutrality in managing one of the most difficult electoral cycles in our history. We commend his fortitude in the face of relentless attacks by those who cannot play by the rules.
“We urge INEC and its leadership to remain focused, undeterred and resolute in fulfilling their constitutional mandate to deepen democracy in Nigeria. The Nigerian people deserve and indeed demand an electoral umpire free from the intimidation and manipulation of disgruntled politicians.
“The NDYC reaffirms its confidence in INEC and in Professor Yakubu’s continued leadership of the Commission. We call on Nigerians to see through the duplicity of those who want to burn down the house simply because they cannot control it.”
