INEC Chairman threatens lawsuit against PDP over Presidential election

INEC Chairman threatens lawsuit against PDP over Presidential election

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has threatened to sue the opposition parties for accusing him of rigging the presidential election.

The INEC chairman issued the threat after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked him to resign on Friday and be immediately investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) for manipulating the election results.

Mr Yakubu, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the call for his sack was misplaced and that the PDP should proceed to the court to prove its claims.

While wondering why the party did not provide evidence to back up its spurious allegations, the INEC chairman said the party did not also provide evidence of how he sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units.

He maintained that the commission under his watch “does not rig elections” and that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, “has ensured the integrity of the electoral process”.

He stressed that as constitutionally demanded, the party should seek redress in court having rejected the outcome of the February 25 poll.

“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 libelous allegations against the person of the INEC Chairman is actionable,” the INEC chair said.