IPAC wants Senate to speedily screen, confirm INEC’s chair

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on the Senate to speedily reconvene to screen and confirm the nominee, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Chairman of IPAC, Dr Leonard Nzenwa, during a press conference in Abuja on Friday said President has made a nomination which has enjoyed widespread applause both locally and internationally and the best we all can all do is to give support and not let these undertakers to have a job to do.

He recalled that on February 10, 2020 when “we took the bold step of rallying ourselves together to promote the mutual interest of the 18 registered  political parties after the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC de-listment we were resolved to ensure that stakeholders and forces bent on eroding gains made in the electoral process and system are checked and made to align  with broader effort to improve the electoral process and ensure that we continue to have inclusive, peaceful, credible, free, fair and transparent polls in the country.

“We were clear, firm and resolute that we would work harmoniously with all stakeholders including the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and this informed why when we observed the rancorous build up to the Edo and Ondo Gubernatorial Polls we alerted the nation on August 11, 2020, calling on Nigerians to eschew electoral violence and stop the politics of kill and Go.

“It is gratifying to note that the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC call was heeded by both INEC, on the need to conduct credible election, especially in  Edo, and on politicians and other stakeholders to stop overheating the polity. We have never ceased in doing this.

“Events in the last few days in our polity demands intervention of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC to support in steering things aright, and also to alert Nigerians of the insidious plot to unsettle the polity through destabilizing the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and scuttle the reform instituted by the former National Chairman, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who has stepped down from the Commission but who President Mohammadu Buhari re-appointed and transmitted confirmation to the Senate.

“What we can’t take away is that the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu achieved respectable results during his first tenure.

“The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC was happy with Mahmoods’ reappointment and made this clear in its congratulatory message on October 30, 2020. We noted unambiguously that the positive technology and digitization trajectory he set for the Commission remains impressive with reformation agenda he plans for the political process and system before expiration of his first tenure.

“However, these laudable achievement is being disparaged by forces who will stop at nothing to ensure that the country do not move forward.

“We have reached the point where we must jettison political differences and stand for Nigeria. The dishonorable tendency to pull everything down if it does not favour ones predilection or suits ones’ whims and caprices is leading many to indulge in acts that mocks the senses and drains the soul.

“Some Nigerians are it again to unsettle the polity and halt screening of the INEC Chairman Nominee, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

“ Following announcement of the reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for a second term in office as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which received widespread support across party lines, little did we know that a few desperate stakeholders including anti –progressive politicians were not happy and have conspired amongst themselves to hijack the legislative powers of the Senate to screen and confirm the nominee,” he said.

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