Labour party on Thursday demanded the immediate dismissal from the Office and prosecution of Prof Mahmud Yakubu.

Addressing journalists in a press conference at the party's national headquarters in Abuja, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, Director General of the OBI-DATTI presidential campaign organisation called for the commencement of forensic financial investigation, into the expenditure of budgeted disbursements and Donors’ funds received by INEC, especially the N300 billion appropriated from the National purse, as well as other funds and materials, received from International Donor Agencies. 

 

While commending the International Community and Civil Society, for their continued support, in growing and consolidating Nigeria democracy, Osuntokun said it is only logical, bolstered by the final Observer Group reports, that the International Community take immediate and appropriate punitive action against Prof Mahmud Yakubu, Barrister Festus Okoye and other top administrative and field staff of INEC, directly complicit, in the desecration of the elections. 

 

Part of the address reads, "in Paragraph 17, page 7 of its own report, the ECOWAS Election Observer Mission stated that “incidents of violence, killings and disruption, were recorded in several states. The mission deplores the unfortunate incidents that occurred in the lead up to E-day, leading to loss of life in some parts of the country. These include the murder of the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East, alongside five of his supporters.”

 

"The Labour Party and the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation condemn vehemently, the negative and jaundiced responses on the EU Report and other Election Observers’ reports, by the Spokesperson of APC administration and other ill-informed persons, which are totally in discord, with the mood of the nation, at this time, and which also, present an embarrassing contrast, to their selective celebration of the 2019 Election reports, from these same Observer groups. 

 

"We advice that those who have deployed hired ‘protesters’ to the offices of the EU, in respect of their election report, desist from any further wastage of public funds, as the objective of intimidation is without basis, and has failed, from the beginning - because indeed, the irregularities in the election, were so excessively glaring, with bitter personal and reported experiences, by the overwhelming majority of Nigerians. 

 

"The EU Election Observation Mission, as well as the Civil Society Situation Room, NDI -IRI,  YIAGA etc are all INEC accredited observer groups, as well as very credible and long standing international and local stakeholders, in the Nigeria democratic process, whose reports are an essential contribution towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

 

"We would like to point Nigerians, to the fact, that the EU Observer group report, is in tandem with the reports of other international and domestic observers, duly accredited by INEC, and also in tandem, with public opinion and the experience of the majority of Nigerian citizens, who participated in, or observed the 2023 general elections.

 

"At this juncture, there is no doubt that Nigerians and the International Community expect the Judiciary, to critically examine the evidence, the law, and the processes of these flawed elections, in arriving at a legally correct, and overwhelmingly acknowledgeable verdict. 

 

"We urge the people of Nigeria - youths, elders, voters and all citizens, to continue to follow the legal process patiently, keenly and peacefully.. to final resolution. "