Unified Nigerian Youth Forum Calls For Removal of INEC Chairman Over Elections Shift

NIGERIA –

The leadership of Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF), on Saturday condemned in strong terms, the decision by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the long awaited 2019 general elections in few hours to the scheduled day.

The Forum’s President, Comr AbdulSalam Mohammed Kazeem in a statement, called for independent interrogation of the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood YAKUBU and remove him from office if found incompetent to mange his office.

The Forum also expressed worry, over waste of resources by the electoral unpire, stakeholders and Nigerians who had prepared for the polls.

He said, “Over N180 billion was approved and we are reliably informed that, the said amount was duly released, and now we are talking of postponement.

“As At 5pm on Friday, most of the sensitive materials have said to have been given out. Does that mean they don’t know they have problems before sharing those sensitive materials or they are trying to frustrate the same process themselves?

“If, despite such huge amount allotted for 2019 general election and the best we could get as a nation is postponement, then Professor Yakubu should resign immediately without further delay.

“In 2015, the election was postponed by 6 weeks, but the information gets to all stakeholders within a reasonable time. Unlike what we are witnessing now, these postponement at the wee hours of February 16, 2019, can even incite violence or lead to voters’ apathy because most Nigerians have lost confidence in the leadership of INEC.

“INEC under Prof. Yakubu introduced inconclusive elections based on his formula, which raised series of suspicious among Nigeria even among renowned professors and mathematician we have in this country

“Our borders are closed. Many businesses are on hold now with its effect on our economy. People have travelled to their respective states to exercise their civic rresponsibility.This shows high level of incompetence of the electoral body, having almost four (4) years to plan and replan for the same purpose and yet the best out of their strategy in four years is postponement.

“The same INEC has been sending unsolicited messages to citizens to go and get their PVC. Yet, the same INEC is talking of logistics problem. Something is definitely wrong somewhere.

“We therefore call on the immediate sack or honounarble resignation of the INEC boss for this national embarrassment he has caused our dear country and it economic implications.