A coalition of opposition political parties led by the National Chairman of Action Alliance, Kenneth Udeze, on Thursday stormed the National Assembly canvassing support for the reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission.
Armed with banners urging the Senate to expedite action on Yakubu’s confirmation, Udeze said the performance of the Professor in his first five-year tenure, informed their action.
Yakubu was already in the Senate wing of the National Assembly ahead of his screening billed to start by 2 pm while the rally was ongoing at the gate of the sprawling complex.
Udeze said Yakubu had been cleared in the past, his performances in the last five years should be a good reason to confirm him.
He listed some of the achievements of Yakubu to include the electronic transfer of results from polling units to the central server and the prompt announcement of results.
He said, “There is the need for the Senate to confirm Prof Yakubu’s appointment. We are solidly behind him and we are impressed by his performances so far.
“Yakubu’s innovation in Edo and Ondo election, by transmitting election results by electronic means is commendable.
“He has done well. One thing is to have a team and another to have a good man at the head,” he said.
He called on Yakubu to stop using ad hoc staff as returning officers but should use staff.
Udeze also urged him to replicate what he did in Edo and Ondo states in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
The coalition urged the lawmakers to shun the alleged clandestine move by some politicians to scuttle the confirmation of Prof. Yakubu for the second term.
Udeze recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently reappointed Yakubu for another tenure of five years.
The inscriptions on the banners read, “All political parties in Nigeria accept Professor Yakubu’s reappointment as INEC chairman, commend Senate President and senators for speedy screening action.”
Another one also read, “All political parties in Nigeria say President Buhari’s reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman will help consolidate the ongoing reforms in INEC especially electronic voting.”
