INEC warns PDP over ‘libellous claim’ against its chairman Mahmood Yakubu, says it is ‘actionable’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged libellous allegations against its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.

PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba who addressed a press conference yesterday, March 10, had called for Mahmood Yakubu’s resignation and for him to be investigated and prosecuted for allegedly breaching provisions of the 2022 electoral act in the conduct of the presidential election.

He also accused INEC of trying to “erase and destroy evidence of its manipulation of the presidential election” by reconfiguring the BVAS.

However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman said the call for his principal to resign is misplaced as the PDP did not provide any convincing evidence to back up its allegations.

He also averred that “making libellous allegations against the person of the INEC Chairman is actionable.” The statement read;

“To be sure, the PDP failed to provide any evidence to substantiate the allegations of Yakubu’s “brazen violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, and criminal manipulation and alteration of election results.

“The PDP also did not give the evidence to prove its claims that Prof. Yakubu sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units.

“To be sure, the Commission does not rig elections. Rather, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has, since its introduction, among other innovations, ensured the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only properly registered voters are allowed to vote on Election Day.

“The path of honour for the party, therefore, is to pursue its case in court, armed with all the evidence at its disposal and wait for the court’s decision.

“But going about 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.”