SMBA Seeks INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s Resignation

The Southern and Middle Belt Alliance (SMBA) wants Mahmood Yakubu, who serves as Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to resign if he can't guarantee "fair and credible" elections.

SMBA's spokesperson, Rwang Pam Jr., shared a statement Tuesday where the INEC chairman was asked to resign from his post considering the upcoming governorship and states House of Assembly elections, which will be held this Saturday.

The demand came after the presidential and National Assembly elections, which were held on Feb. 25, and other parties alleged that the elections were not fair.

The statement mentioned that presidential and National Assembly elections "has not only brought international disgrace to Nigeria but equally failed to protect the mandate of millions of Nigerians," according to Punch.

"If the Inspector-General of Police feels that he is not well equipped or competent enough to safeguard the public, INEC staff and electoral materials on March 11, then he should resign and let someone else take over," the statement continued. "If the INEC boss feels that he cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections, he should resign."

SMBA also shared that if INEC is not able to provide "Nigerians justice without fear, favor or compromise," then such members of INEC should step down.

Formed by former Nigerian President Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1998, INEC is responsible for overseeing elections held in the country.

The Southern and Middle Belt Alliance group also noted in the statement that "Nigerians need a commitment that transcends verbal promises," adding that there have been countless instances of bullying, intimidation of voters and snatching and destruction of electoral materials in several polling areas across the country.

The statement said all these activities have taken place in the "presence of security agencies," which shows "gross incompetence on the part of the Nigeria Police whose primary responsibility is to protect lives and property."

SMBA further noted that even after a week of such "daylight destruction and intimidation," none of the security agencies like the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) or Department of State Services (DSS) has held any of the political thugs or their sponsors responsible as a way of demonstrating their commitment to the integrity of the electoral process.

"Consequently, millions of Nigerian taxpayers and the international community are fast losing confidence in the sincerity of these security agencies," they added.

The statement also mentioned that the upcoming election is an opportunity for INEC to "redeem part of its battered image," adding that it is expected that "the commission should by now publicly expunge its temporary and permanent staff and agents who are suspected to have been either compromised or incompetent."

As per SMBA, it is INEC's responsibility to gain people's trust again in the voting system by removing "those bad eggs" from the government agency.

They concluded the statement by appealing to all Nigerians to keep their calm while staying vigilant during the upcoming elections. They also requested everyone to come out in large numbers and cast their votes.

A total of 203 people were arrested during the February presidential and National Assembly elections for several electoral offenses, Usman Alkali Baba, inspector general of police of the Nigeria Police Force, said.