JAGISTS

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has called on the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to honourably resign his position before the next election for frittering away billions of Naira on a technology that he did not intend to use in the 2023 general elections.

The MBF National President, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, in a statement, advised Judges to remain on the side of justice and ensure the wheel of justice is not compromised as political parties and candidates head to the Election Petition Tribunal.

He said, “We call on the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to toe the honourable path by resigning his position before the next election. His frittering away of tens of billions of Naira on a technology that he did not intend to use makes him unfit to continue to maintain his position.”

In the event, Professor Yakubu fails to tender his resignation, the group asked President Muhammadu Buhari to summarily dismiss him, saying that the inaction by Mr President and the Presidency will be seen as complicity in the subversion of the will of Nigerians in the electoral heist of 25th February 2023.

Dr Pogu reiterated, “On the basis of fairness and inclusivity, it was imperative for the South East to produce the next president of Nigeria from Southern Nigeria. This conviction was why the Middle Belt was the first to hold a rally in support of Mr. Obi in Jos, Plateau State, in 2022.”

He added that the Middle Belt was in the trenches, shoulder to shoulder, with all lovers of justice, and equity on the 25th February 2023, saying that the Middle Belters, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political persuasions, spoke with one loud voice in support of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate and, despite the open brigandage under the watch of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in cahoots with the All Progressives Congress (APC). Plateau State, Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were impregnable fortresses against these anti-democratic forces, evil merchants of divisiveness who did all in their powers to undermine the will of the people.

Despite the commitment of Nigerians, particularly youths, to register and vote for a president of their choice, INEC, in collaboration with anti-democratic forces, brazenly subverted the will of the people, the action was orchestrated by the Electoral Commission in 2022, the statement alleged.

The forum lamented that the refusal by INEC to transmit results electronically is unconstitutional and illegal.

The forum also called on all Nigerians, particularly the peoples of the Middle Belt region, to once again come out en masse to vote in candidates who are pro-Middle Belt Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections this Saturday 11th March 2023.