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From Leon Usigbe, Abuja
The Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has described as worthless and unconvincing the promise by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to deliver a credible governorship election on March 11.
The former vice president stated this following the INEC boss’ pledge to ensure that the commission’s staff found to be negligent during the presidential election would be barred from engaging in the March 11 governorship poll so that it could deliver credible governorship poll.
Yakubu made the promise in a meeting on Saturday with Resident Electoral Commissioners, promising to ensure the strict use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“All staff found to be negligent, whether they are regular or ad hoc officials, including collation and returning officers, must not be involved in the forthcoming elections. RECs must also immediately initiate disciplinary action where prima facie evidence of wrongdoing has been established,” the INEC boss had stated.
However, in a statement on Sunday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the PDP flag bearer also maintained that the INEC chairman was only trying to save face after conducting the worst elections Nigeria had ever witnessed since independence.
He asked Yakubu not to try to deceive Nigerians again after the shambolic performance of INEC in the 25 February poll.
Atiku also commended the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, for admitting that the elections were far below the expectations of Nigerians.
He stated: “It will shock you to note that seven days since the election ended, the full results have still not been uploaded on INEC’s result viewing portal.
“The election was so bad that it failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians as restated by several foreign media outlets and observers as well as Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard of the US. Rather than apologise, the INEC chairman is trying to shift blame.
“After INEC’s abysmal performance at the scam election of February 25, he is now trying to save face, insisting that errant staff would be punished and would not be deployed in the March 11 governorship poll. This is arrant nonsense. Is INEC planning on training new staff within five days that will replace the so-called errant ones? Is he going to recruit new staff or deploy some from outer space?
“Prof. Yakubu should be man enough to own up to his failure. A fish rots from the head down, and that is what has happened at INEC. Rather than suspend any staff, the INEC chairman is the one that needs to step aside as his first act of contrition. Already, over 300,000 Nigerians have signed a petition on Change.Org to demand that the US,UK and Europe place a visa ban on the INEC chairman. This shows you the general feeling of Nigerians. Prof Yakubu should hide his face in shame.”
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