Rigging Allegation: INEC chairman threatens PDP lawsuit

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has threatened the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP a lawsuit over an alleged presidential election rigging allegation.

Mahmood Yakubu issued the threat while replying to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after the party’s leadership, on Friday, asked him to resign.

However, the opposition party had asked the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate the chairman over alleged manipulation of election results.

In a statement by Yakubu’s Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi noted the call was misplaced and challenged the PDP to prove its claims in court.

The spokesperson wondered why the party did not provide evidence to back up “the spurious allegations.”

He added the PDP also did not give evidence of how Yakubu sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units.

The aide maintained that the INEC “does not rig elections,” stressing that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, “has ensured the integrity of the electoral process.”

Oyekanmi reminded the PDP that it rejected the outcome of the February 25 poll and should toe the path of honour by pursuing its case until judgment is delivered.

“Canvassing the same issues the party intends to plead in court on the pages of newspapers and calling for the resignation of the INEC Chairman is like putting the cart before the horse.

“The PDP is hereby reminded that making libellous allegations against the person of the INEC Chairman is actionable,” he added.