INEC: Why Plot To Scuttle Yakubu’s Confirmation Must Be Rejected-IPAC.

By John Nwokocha Abuja

The leadership of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC,  on Friday cautioned on deft attempt to use the judiciary to “Destabilize our electoral process and system, and frustrate screening of the INEC chairman nominee, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu”.

Speaking in Abuja during a world press conference,

Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, national chairman of IPAC,

charged all stakeholders to reject the plans by forces bent on eroding gains made in the electoral. The

IPAC called on politicians to join forces to improve the electoral process and ensure that the country continues to have inclusive peaceful, credible, free, fair and transparent polls, which INEC recorded under Yakubu.

The Council however expressed concern over what it terms  “insidious plot to unsettle the polity”.

According to IPAC, “Events in the last few days in our polity demands intervention of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC to support in steering things aright, and also to alert Nigerians of the insidious plot to unsettle the polity through destabilizing the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and scuttle the reform instituted by the former National Chairman, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who has stepped down from the Commission but who President Mohammadu Buhari re-appointed and transmitted confirmation to the Senate”.

“What we can’t take away is that the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu achieved respectable results during his first tenure. The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC was happy with Mahmoods’ reappointment”. It continues.

Still, it cautions “We have reached the point where we must jettison political differences and stand for Nigeria.

“The dishonorable tendency to pull every thing down if it does not favour ones predilection or suits ones’ whims and caprices is leading many to indulge in acts that mocks the senses and drains the soul”.

Stating that the gambit is spearheaded by a desperate ambition to be president and governors in 2023, the Council urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be mindful of plot to sabotage his efforts to leave behind a transparent system. “It is all about 2023”. IPAC warns.

Drawing attention to a suit filed at the Federal High Court

On 18th November, 2020, two hired aimed at stopping the Senate from screening the nominee and nullifying the appointment made by the President Buhari, until the Police completes  criminal investigation, the screening should not take place, IPAC expressed shock how fast the country’s legal system now moves.

Warning that caution should be applied not to over heat the polity again as the country is still smarting from the #EndSARS protests that resulted in destruction of properties and loss of lives, IPAC called on the judiciary not to allow itself to be used.

It also called on the Senate to speedily reconvene to consider, screen and confirm the nominee, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and save the country’s institutions from the  plots to derail and cause needless tension by undertakers.