Inec chairman warns PDP that they may face libel charges for calling him an election rigger

INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (Inec) chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he may drag them to court for alleging that he rigged Nigeria's recent presidential elections.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and Inec has subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the APC the winner. Among the main gladiators in the contest were Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, ex-Anambra State governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726  votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results, taking to the courts to challenge the APCs victory.

Both parties have called on Professor Mahmood to resign, with the PDP asking that the police and the Department of State Services, investigate the Inec chairman over alleged manipulation of election results. Professor Mahmood's spokesman Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the call was misplaced and challenged the PDP to prove its claims in court.

He also said he wondered why the party did not provide evidence to back up the spurious allegations. Mr Oyekanmi said the PDP also did not give evidence of how Professor Mahmood sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units.

Furthermore, Mr Oyekanmi maintained that Inec does not rig elections, stressing that its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, has ensured the integrity of the electoral process. He then reminded the PDP that it rejected the outcome of the February 25 poll and should toe the path of honour by pursuing its case until judgment is delivered.

Mr Oyekanmi added: “Canvassing the same issues the party intends to plead in court on the pages of newspapers and calling for the resignation of the Inec chairman is like putting the cart before the horse. The PDP is hereby reminded that making libellous allegations against the person of the Inec Chairman is actionable."