A former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has demanded the immediate resignation of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Okorie alleged that Yakubu has been found guilty of contempt of court for disobeying a court order to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA.
The leadership dispute had reached the Supreme Court, which declared Njoku the legitimate chairman. However, INEC reportedly failed to comply with the court order, according to Daily Post.
Okorie’s call for Yakubu’s resignation comes amid concerns over INEC’s neutrality and compliance with court orders.
The development has sparked debate on the independence and credibility of the electoral commission.
“Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in a sane country, will not be the presiding officer of the highest democratic institution in the land, having been found guilty of contempt of court from November last year,” Okorie told reporters at the Court of Appeal premises, where he and other top members of the party had gone to submit a petition at the weekend.
“That the Court of Appeal arrested the sentencing does not remove the fact that he was already found guilty.
“And I want to say that arresting sentencing is another shocker because if a judgement has been given and awaiting sentencing the upper court is supposed to allow the lower court to fulfil its job.
“The constitution is clear on that. I’m calling out to Mahmood to leave that office. He is an embarrassment to this country. It is scandalising for a contemnor to remain as the Chairman of the highest democratic institution in Nigeria,” he added.
