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A group protesting the outcome of the February 14th presidential election has called on the United States to advise the Nigerian government to desist from pursuing an undemocratic agenda through its insistence on abiding by the decision of the electoral umpire.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the presidential election amid allegations of widespread irregularities, violence, and accusations of contravention of its guidelines and the Electoral Act.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the man at the center of the storm, has been on the receiving end with various groups calling for his sack and prosecution for committing what they call ‘electoral atrocities’.
The Free Nigeria Movement, a pro-Nigeria advocacy group marked the 14th day of its protest today.
The group visited the US Embassy Abuja, a second leg following a prior visit about a week ago, to reiterate its demands and called on the US government to unleash sanctions on Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu and other top INEC officials who it accuses of electoral misconduct during the presidential elections.
Speaking to Journalists, the group convener, Dr. Moses Paul, explained that the group’s visit was to “Solidify our call of punishment for impunity.
Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu has committed a crime against Nigerians – living, dead, and even the unborn. He has sold our voices for a pot of porridge and we will continue to take a stand for justice no matter how long it takes. We call for his sack, arrest and prosecution as well as that of everyone who has had a hand in fomenting these atrocities.”
He said the United States has had a successful journey as a democracy and has a lot of lessons for Nigeria.
He called on the Biden administration to heed the call of ordinary Nigerians and demand that the Buhari administration does the right thing.
“Elections are reflections of the true colour of any democracy. They should be sacred exercises conducted with the full weight of electoral piety.
“For they mark the line between civility and rascality. Elections are not necessarily about who emerges as winners, but the process by which they emerge and how transparency is invested. Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu will go down in history as the worst chairman of our electoral umpire. May people like him never happen to Nigeria again.”
He said the 2pm time for the protest was chosen to coincide with a similar protest by Nigerians in Washington in a landmark international alignment.
He said, “Our compatriots are currently protesting in Washington D.C. calling for the cancellation of the presidential election, sack and prosecution of Prof. Mahmoud and sanctions by the US government. We are here in agreement and alignment as we mark the 14 – milestone of our protest. We remain resolute in our demands and non – violent in our approach as we know that the thugs of the politicians are also victims of the kind of Nigeria they want us to remain citizens of. Our call is for a New Nigeria where people like Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu will not be able to smell public office.”
