2023: INEC Chairman Not Pressurized to Deactivate BVAS – UNYF

By Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna

A Group under the auspices of the Unified Nigerian Youth Forum (UNYF), has debunked what its described as rumour, that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmood is currently under pressure to stop the use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the coming election.

The group who also frowned at the calls for the removal and investigation of the INEC boss, said such calls were coming from unpatriotic Nigerians.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, the National President of the group, Comrade Abdulsalam Moh’d Kazeem, noted that those behind the calls for the sack of the INEC Chairman are wrongly accusing him.

“Those behind this charade are nothing but paid agents and goons of selfish and unpatriotic politicians seeking to manipulate next year’s general elections at all cost.

“It is in public domain, the activities of certain groups of persons purporting to be promoting the interest of the north and Nigeria, but sadly working for the enemies of the nation.

“We dispel in strong terms the rumours making the rounds that the INEC Boss and his management team have morally compromised because of pressure from political parties to deactivate BVAS.

“For the record, please note that; BVAS and all the electoral reforms currently in place have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC majority National Assembly,” he emphasized.

While speaking, Moh’d Kazeem stressed that since the appointment of the apex electoral body’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood has been working to ensure that 2023 elections are credible, fair and transparent.

The leader of the group therefore urged Nigerians to mobilize and support the commission towards the conduct of 2023 General elections, adding that the elections will be the best in the nation’s history.