The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that the Labour Party (LP) has no grounds to ask for the sacking of its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu. The LP has called for Yakubu to be removed from his position.

In a news conference that took place on Thursday, the LP urged the international community to take “punitive action” against Yakubu and other high-ranking INEC officials for the way in which they oversaw the 2023 polls.

The party claimed that the reports of observer groups on the elections were sufficient evidence.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told NAN that the “reasons adduced by the LP in making the latest and familiar demand are not only illogical but also ridiculous.” This was in response to the LP’s latest and most frequent demand.

INEC responds to EU observers’ report on result transmission in the 2023 election

Oyekanmi made the observation that INEC accredited both local and international election observers in accordance with a set of norms and regulations, and that these observers were required to present their reports to the commission.

As a result, it is not within the purview of any election observer, in any capacity, to level accusations of wrongdoing against INEC. They are only allowed to provide observations and suggestions, provided that they have any, but they are never allowed to indict anyone.

In the same vein, “in the same manner, it is also not within the LP’s jurisdiction to demand the dismissal and prosecution of the INEC chairman over the outcome of an election in which the party fielded candidates,” Oyekanmi noted. “In the same manner, it is also not within the LP’s jurisdiction to demand the dismissal and prosecution of the INEC chairman.”