A petition on Change.org calling for the US, Canada, and UK to cancel the visa of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has gained over 150,000 signatures.
The petition, started by a user named Osusu 1k, alleges that Yakubu rigged Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party.
Despite the growing support for the petition, Yakubu has not made any public statement regarding the allegations.
He is currently overseeing the counting of votes in the election, which took place on February 23, 2023. The election has been marred by reports of violence and voter intimidation in some areas, but observers say that overall it was conducted peacefully and with a high level of participation.
Critics of the petition argue that it is based on unsubstantiated allegations and that it unfairly targets Yakubu. They also point out that it is unusual for foreign governments to take action against officials of another country’s electoral commission.
Supporters of the petition, however, maintain that the allegations of election rigging are credible and that Yakubu should be held accountable. They have taken to social media to express their frustration with what they see as a lack of transparency and fairness in the election process.
The controversy surrounding Yakubu and the allegations of election rigging come at a time of political turmoil in Nigeria, with the country facing a range of challenges, including insecurity, economic hardship, and political instability. The APC has been in power since 2015 and is also contesting the 2023 presidential election with former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take over from the current President Muhammadu Buhari.
It remains to be seen whether the US, Canada, and UK will take action in response to the petition, and whether Yakubu will address the allegations publicly. The situation is likely to remain a contentious issue in Nigerian politics in the coming weeks and months.
