The Arewa Youth Alliance for Progress and Development (AYAPD) has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over allegations surrounding the delineation of suppressed constituencies and the creation of extra polling items in Benue, Kogi, Delta and Jigawa states.
The group mentioned the fee acted in compliance with a Supreme Court directive arising from longstanding authorized disputes over the affected constituencies, insisting that its actions had been guided by the rule of regulation.
In a press release issued on Monday and signed by its President, Comrade Victor Duniya, AYAPD described the allegations towards INEC as baseless, arguing that the electoral physique shouldn’t be criticised for implementing a legally binding courtroom judgment.
Duniya maintained that INEC was solely discharging its constitutional duties and deserved commendation for respecting judicial selections moderately than yielding to political stress.
He additionally defended the fee’s efficiency beneath its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, citing elections performed in a number of constituencies the place opposition candidates reportedly emerged victorious.
According to him, the elections had been adjudged free, honest and credible by home and worldwide observers, whereas candidates accepted the outcomes most often.
The AYAPD president mentioned the event demonstrated INEC’s dedication to transparency and impartiality, urging political stakeholders to help efforts to strengthen democratic establishments.
He, nonetheless, accused some opposition components of making an attempt to undermine the electoral physique by what he described as pointless criticism as an alternative of participating constructively with the electoral course of.
Duniya urged political actors to chorus from making allegations able to eroding public confidence in INEC forward of the 2027 basic elections.
He additionally pledged to mobilise youth help towards what he described as makes an attempt to blackmail or weaken the fee, stressing the necessity to defend the independence of electoral establishments.
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