The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has reiterated its unwavering trust in the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following recent comments by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.
In a statement by the president-general of the forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the AYCF reiterated its longstanding belief that INEC is a reputable institution that consistently upholds the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency in conducting elections.
“Peter Obi’s acknowledgment that the judiciary, rather than INEC, poses the greatest challenge to Nigeria’s democracy, further strengthens our conviction in the integrity of INEC.
“Recall that the AYCF has long maintained that INEC is a credible, impartial, and unbiased institution that consistently conducts credible elections, hence Mr Obi’s remarks have vindicated their stance and affirmed that INEC is not the primary obstacle to democratic electoral practices in Nigeria,” Shettima noted.
AYCF emphasized the importance of strong institutions like INEC in ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and highlighted the detrimental impact of the judiciary assuming the role of the sole arbiter in election matters.
“The AYCF firmly believes that strong and independent institutions such as INEC are essential in preserving the democratic fabric of our nation. The forum recognises the critical role that INEC plays in upholding the will of the people through free, fair and credible elections.
“We commend INEC for its dedication to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and safeguarding the democratic rights of Nigerian citizens.
“It is our steadfast belief that any attempts to undermine the credibility of INEC or question its impartiality are detrimental to the progress of our democratic system.
“The AYCF stands firm in its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s electoral system. We will continue to advocate for the independence and effectiveness of INEC in carrying out its constitutional mandate.”