Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum pass vote of no confidence in Inec chairman Prof Yakubu

CIVIL society group the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called for the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu saying that he might rig the 2019 elections in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Appointed as Inec chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 October 2015, Professor Yakubu was a lecturer, guerrilla warfare expert and academic of political history and international studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He has also served as the executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, appointed to office in 2007 by late President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Despite his apparent good credentials and experience, the SMBLF has expressed objections to Professor Yakubu's suitability for the post after a meeting in Abuja yesterday.

At a press conference attended by Chief Edwin Clark, representing the south-south; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, southwest; Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, southeast; Air Commodore Dan Suleiman Middle Belt and Air Commodore Nkanga Idongesit, the forum called for the appointment of a neutral person top conduct the 2019 polls.

Retired Air Commodore Idongesit, the chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, argued that retaining the service chiefs who ought to have retired and keeping Professor Yakubu as Inec boss were suspicious. He added that this shows that they would play partisan roles in favour of the president and not deliver free and fair elections in 2019.

Air Commodore Idongesit said: “From 1960 till date, only President Muhammadu Buhari has been audacious to pick only people who are either his relations or of the same ethnic stock with him to lead the electoral body. The Balewa government headed by a northerner appointed Professor Eyo Ita Esua from the south, who was in charge of the Federal Electoral Commission from 1960-66, while General Olusegun Obasanjo, a Yoruba, set up the Federal Electoral Commission under Michael Ani (1976-1979).

"When Dr Goodluck Jonathan came in from the south-south, he appointed Professor Attahiru Jega from the northwest (June 2010-October 2015). It was only President Buhari who appointed his relation from the northwest, Mrs Amina Zakari, as the acting Inec chairman when he became president in 2015 before he appointed Professor Yakubu from the northeast as a substantive chairman."

He added that the relationship between the powerful Amina Zakari and the Inec chairman is so strong that it has the tendency to influence the outcome of the elections in favour of the appointee. According to Air Commodore Idongesit the bug of nepotism and sectionalism that this administration is renowned for has also eaten up the leadership of the commission.