The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of planning to remove the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu and replacing him with Amina Zakari under the guise of INEC in ability to conduct election on Saturday.
The group also accused security forces and the Central Bank of Nigeria of conspiring with the Presidency to deliberately sabotage the distribution of sensitive materials in selected states.
The spokesperson of the CUPP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere made these accusations in a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday. He stated further that the president penciled down Amina Zakari as the Acting Chairman citing her experience as the oldest and most experienced National Commissioner of the commission.
He said the “sin of the INEC Chairman is that he refused to conduct staggered elections that will allow the President and his men to manipulate the process.”
According to him, “the President has also penciled down Amina Zakari for appointment as the Acting Chairman citing her experience as the oldest and most experienced National Commissioner of the Commission.
“The Presidency had mounted pressure on the Commission to conduct election today in states where there were no issues and postpone only the states with materials distribution issues. The INEC Chairman insisted on conducting the election at the same time hence warranting the postponement of the entire election.
“We hereby warn President Buhari that the position of the INEC Chairman is independent, hence, he cannot be removed from office via suspension. The 1999 Constitution in Section 157(1) states that the Chairman and members of the Commission may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate that the person be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct,” he said.
The group also warned that any attempt to sack or suspend the INEC Chairman would only lead to electoral and constitutional crisis. He pointed out that our country is still “grappling with the illegality and unconstitutionality of the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President want to go down this ignoble path.”
