Agbakoba said while he’s not contesting 2023 election outcome because it’s in court, INEC failed in terms of logistics
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human Rights lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba has asked President Bola Tinubu to terminate the appointment of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria advocated this in a statement on Thursday, while congratulating Tinubu for his accomplishments so far.
According to Agbakoba, following the suspensions of the Governor of Central Bank, Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission, fuel subsidy and foreign exchange corruption, it’s time to take on INEC.
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He went on to say while he is not contesting the outcome of the 2023 election because it’s in court, the electoral commission failed in terms of logistics.
Agbakoba said: “Full congratulations go to President Tinubu for getting rid of Emefiele and Bawa, fuel subsidy, and forex corruption. Endemic corruption has suffered a massive blow. Next is for the president to dismantle INEC.
“Everyone will agree that logistically, the 2023 elections are the worst in our history. I do not refer to the merits of the results of the elections. Many results are disputed and are in Tribunals. Both petitioners and respondents suffered at the hands of an incompetent INEC.
“As we await rulings from the courts, massive reforms of the electoral framework ought to begin, but this means that the INEC Chairman will have to leave office by resignation or removal; otherwise, the reform task will be impeded.
“I add that the suggested reforms have nothing to do with the merits of election results. Both winners and losers of the elections were victims of the failure of INEC. A deep cleansing of INEC will enhance confidence in Nigeria’s democracy”
Since the inauguration of the present administration on May 29, President Tinubu has embarked on several reforms which included the unification of foreign exchange, signing of Students Loan Act and Data Protection Act.