Protesters demand INEC chair arrest

Scores of young demonstrators under the aegis of National Youth League for Defence of Democracy on Thursday called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over the manner he conducted the 2023 general elections.

The protesters  also urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to put in place an interim government before he leaves office on May 29.

Addressing newsmen at the Unity Fountain in Abuja on Thursday, Convener of the group, Dr. Moses Paul,  described the polls as one of the worst in the annals of Nigeria’s electoral practice.

  Paul called on the president to annul the elections, set up an interim government and appoint a new INEC chairman to conduct fresh polls.

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He said, “We are here particularly to address the greatest crime that has happened in the history of Nigeria. People were killed in Kano and some shot in Rivers. We have seen the greatest inhumanity happened in Lagos State in the course of this election.

“We have two demands. We are asking the President of this country to arrest immediately and prosecute the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who has committed the greatest fraud in the history of humanity; we need him arrested and be prosecuted.

 “Our number two demand is that we are asking for an interim government be put in place. We are saying that because we do not want President Muhammadu Buhari to continue; his tenure is ending; so. as a father he should put in place an interim government so that the interim government will now appoint another INEC chairman who will conduct a free and credible election and produce a befitting President for our country.”

Asked what they plan to do if the demands were not met, co-convener of the group, Anngu Orngu, said they continue to demonstrate and seek every civil and lawful means to ensure their message sinks home.

 “We are calling on DSS to arrest Mahmood immediately; the EFCC should investigate him and we are also calling on the Nigerian judiciary because those concerned are already in court, particularly the presidential election of February 25.

“We are calling on the judges in Nigeria that we want justice to prevail.”