A civil society organisation, called International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Inter-society), has decried the calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, over the postponement of the general elections.

The group stated this in a statement signed by its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, and made available to newsmen in Onitsha on Monday.

Umeagbalasi described the calls on the heels of the postponement as “totally dangerous, counterproductive and capable of setting a fresh trap for the country.”

He further stated that removing Yakubu would amount to the “usurpation and destruction of the country’s democratic institution.”

He said, “We see the sustained calls for the removal of INEC Chairman as not only counterproductive, but dangerous.

He expressed regrets that Nigerians singled out INEC and its leadership for condemnation over the shift.

“INEC does not control the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Nigeria Police, the DSS and the paramilitary agencies,”he said.

Umeagbalasi stated that there were reported cases of security breaches, including the burning of INEC offices, Permanent Voter Cards, smart card readers, in Abia, Anambra and Plateau states, prior to the botched polls.

He therefore urged Nigerians to rise to the occasion and avoid falling into the traps of desperate politicians.

He further appealed to the people to stop the calls for the removal of INEC chairman and focus their attention on ensuring that the elections would free, fair and credible.

“Nigerians, party candidates, civil society groups and international observers must follow INEC’s activities closely to ward-off any conspiracy to manipulate the results of the polls,” Umeagbalasi said. (NAN)

– Feb. 18, 2019 @ 18:42 GMT |