No Need To Sack INEC Chairman, 2023 Presidential Election Was Free And Fair – AYCF

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has declared the 2023 presidential election as free and fair, adding that it is the freest since the 1999 election.

The AYCF in a statement on Sunday also berated those calling for the sack or resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Mahmood Yakubu over the conduct of the 2023 polls, describing such calls as unnecessary.

The AYCF statement made available to Naija News on Sunday was signed by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima.

Shettima described those calling for the resignation of the INEC chairman as agents of destabilization, adding that “there are forces opposed to the commendable effort of INEC and we are aware there is deliberate ploy to distract the electoral umpire.”

He said there is no perfect election anywhere in the world and INEC has done its best with the 2023 presidential election.

“INEC has given the 2023 elections its best shot by training and retraining of election officials, using the BVAS successfully in 90% of cases. As with elections anywhere in the world, INEC couldn’t have done a perfect job because in reality they cannot be completely infallible

“We say no to the forces of destabilisation of Nigeria who have been calling for the resignation of INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, without any cogent reason.

“For those who are crying wolf over claims of election rigging, they need to have a rethink because APC’s Bola Tinubu lost in his immediate constituency of Lagos and Labour Party won many areas. PDP’s Atiku Abubakar lost his immediate constituency of Adamawa. It is very clear that this is comparatively the most free and fairest election since 1999. It is pointless crying foul where there is none .

“We call on men and women of good conscience to support the efforts of INEC to bequeath a good electoral legacy on the country. Imagine holding elections under a cashless policy, when there rural areas are without banks and ATM machines or have non-existent internet infrastructure.

“It is obvious that the INEC officials made enormous sacrifice under the current economic and national security challenges to hold successful presidential and National Assembly elections,” the statement said.

Allow INEC To Deliver Its Mandate

The AYCF also urged people to support the country’s democracy and encourage INEC to preserve peace in Nigeria by fulfilling its mandate.

“We reject any deliberate ploy to cause crisis in the name of unsubstantiated allegations of rigging.

“We urge the civil society to be careful about acting the script of candidates who have lost the just-concluded elections and are trying to engineer thuggery, killings and arson. We all have a duty as Nigerians to be patriotic enough to speak the truth and stand by peace, unity and national stability,” the statement added.