The Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have asked Professor Mahmood Yakubu to step down from his position as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman.
The three opposition parties also challenged the results presented by the electoral commission as they called for the outright cancellation of the February 25 elections.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, the opposition parties said they had lost faith in INEC, and that Saturday’s elections were not free, fair and transparent.
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According to the parties, INEC conducted the elections with the crude standards that predate the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS).
INEC introduced the BVAS to checkmate over-voting and other voting irregularities that had characterised Nigeria’s elections, but there are reports that the technology’s servers were manipulated to compromise the election results.
The allied parties also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stand by his promise to Nigerians to bequeath a legacy of free and fair elections.
“This is the time of great test of your integrity; use your office to save Nigeria from this electoral mismanagement,” said Julius Abure, the LP chairman, who spoke on behalf of the parties.
While reeling out the demands of the three parties, Julius Abure of the LP said, “This election is not free and is far from being fair or transparent. The total number of canceled results has rendered the election inconclusive.
“We have concluded that the presidential election has been irretrievably compromised, and we have totally lost faith in the entire process. The LP, PDP, ADC and other allied parties shall not be part of the process currently going on.
“We demand that this sham of an election be immediately cancelled. We also call for a fresh election to be carried out within the orbit of the electoral act and in accordance with the laid down INEC procedures for the conduct of the election.
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“We call on the international communities to note that the results being called at the national collation centre are heavily doctored and do not reflect the wishes and expectations of Nigerians.
“We declare a vote of no confidence on the INEC chairman by his conduct and his reactions to the complaint by the disenfranchised political parties. We believe that he lacks the integrity and moral standing to continue to oversee the election process to a conclusion.
“We are therefore calling on the INEC chairman to step aside from his role as INEC chairman, and for a credible personality to outside the commission to take his place.”
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