Amid the recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly, has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police that Nigerians are keenly watching their actions.
This came amid a viral video of some politicians in Kogi State allegedly mass-signing signatures purported to be those of the senator’s constituents.
It was gathered that the senator had already petitioned the police over the development.
However, yesterday, the national president of Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly, Shuaibu Usman, addressed journalists and accused INEC of always compromising the electoral process in Kogi State.
Usman, who recalled how results of the last governorship election in the state allegedly emerged even before the exercise commenced, urged the commission to redeem itself.
He said, “Kogi parades itself as the worst example when it comes to INEC’s conduct of elections in Nigeria. We have not forgotten how many credible organisations, including Yiaga Africa, raised the alarm about the electoral heist during the last guber election in that state.
“So, INEC has been notorious for providing a thriving ground for politicians in Kogi State to mess up the country’s electoral system.
“The same people are at it again, this time hiding under the guise of a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. With their Kogi magic, they quickly manufactured over 250,000 signatures, whereas the entire number of voters during the main election stood at 120,000.
“One need not be a soothsayer to know that these are the same elements that are known to be chronic election riggers.
“However, we must caution the INEC that this should not be business as usual; this is beyond Kogi State, so Nigerians are watching.
“We were taken aback when the INEC, after announcing that the petition did not meet its requirements, returned a day later to tell Nigerians that the same petitioners had met the requirements – what a quick fix!
“INEC must not kowtow to the whims and caprices of desperate political elements in Kogi State, as this will be resisted by Nigerians.”
The group said the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had also urged the police to ensure that all those involved in forging the signatures of Senator Natasha’s constituents were brought to book.
According to the group, the viral videos showed known faces in Kogi State wondering why the police had not made any arrests.
“By now, we had expected that some perpetrators should be cooling their heels in custody or having their days in court, but it is yet to happen.
“There should be no room for compromise. The culprits, no matter how highly placed, should be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“We urge that the police should engage forensic experts to analyse those signatures before the INEC takes any further step in the said petition,” Usman stated.
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