The leadership of the United Nigerians in the Diaspora (UND) has said it will embark on massive street protests at some Nigerian embassies in Washington DC, London and other major cities in Europe and Asia, asking for the immediate resignation of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The diaspora group called on the INEC chairman to resign over what they described as “the conduct of a shambolic 2023 general elections” while Senate President Akpabio should step aside over the allegation of budget padding raised against him by some Senators.
In a statement released in Abuja, signed by its president worldwide, Ambassador Yusuf Adeyinka, and its general secretary worldwide, Comrade Johnson Acheme, the group solicited the cooperation of the International Community during the protest periods, urging foreign nations who practice ideal democracy to bar the INEC Chairman and his team members, Senate President and the top echelon of the Nigerian Judiciary who partook in deciding the 2023 elections petitions tribunal matters from entering their countries.
The diaspora group also commended Senator Ningi for his courage in exposing budget padding in the National Assembly.
“We, the leadership of United Nigerians in the Diaspora, UND- an umbrella body of diaspora groups comprising Nigerians living in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, some European and Asian nations wish to alert Nigerians and the entire international community on our resolve to hit the streets and Nigerian Embassies…to protest the conduct of a shambolic 2023 general elections by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu and his rogue team.
“As a body, we have carefully watched the antecedents and actions of the National Chairman vis-a-vis the current happenings and realities in Nigeria and wonder what he is still waiting for to resign from that position.
“For emphasis, this global body while commending some of the Northern Senators like Senator Ningi for their courage to speak up on the alleged padding of N3 trillion Naira into the initially approved N25 trillion Naira by the President gives the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio only 48 hours to honourably resign his position and face immediate prosecution.
“Should he fail to heed, we encourage members of the National Assembly to immediately commence a process of his impeachment,” the statement said in part.