"2023 Election Free, Fair, Most Credible": Shettima Boasts, Commends INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu
- Yerima Shettima, the leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, has said that anti-democratic activities will not be tolerated
- Shettima has described an alleged plot for an interim government ahead of May 29 as entirely out of place
- According to the Arewa youth leader, the just-concluded 2023 general election was the most credible poll Nigeria ever conducted
The leader of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Comrade Yerima Shettima, has said that the 2023 election was the best election Nigeria has ever had since its return to Democracy.
Shettima, reacting exclusively to Legit.ng on the ongoing call for an Interim National Government, said it is completely out of place to call for an interim government because the presidential and national assembly elections were not credible.
Source: Facebook
No election is more credible than the 2023 election - Shettima
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According to Shettima, never has such a free, fair, and credible poll been held in the country's history.
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He also argued that only the annulled June 12 poll could be compared to the election conducted under Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s leadership of INEC.
He told Legit.ng:
“Who says the 2023 election was not credible? The 2023 election is one of the most credible elections in the history of Nigeria from 1999 to date.
“We can talk about June 12, that I remember vividly was also a free and fair election that was annulled by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
"But after then, we have never had a free and fair election like the one by this present administration under Professor Mahmood Yakubu.”
Why we adjudge 2023 election most credible - Shettima
Justifying his position, Shettima reeled out various reasons, including the loss of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, the loss of seven sitting governors in their senatorial bids, and the emergence of other people clearly on merit.
According to Shettima, such never happened in past elections.
His words:
“We saw what Professor Mahmood did. Get me very clearly; a ruling party has never lost in Lagos until in the 2023 election where 7 governors lost their senate seats, and where an okada rider from nowhere emerged as a House of Reps member.
"This was an election people won on merit; where people who were supposed to return for their second term as governors lost. It has never happened.”
INEC, Mahmood did a good job - Shettima
The Arewa youths leader did not mince words when he said that the INEC chairman delivered the best election ever and deserves commendation against the ongoing alleged vilification.
He added that it is common sense to know that the elections under the current INEC can't be faulted easily.
According to him:
“It’s common sense to know that a credible election was held under Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and he did very well. Some of us decide not to talk and watch the game because we want to take time to observe things and wait for rubbish to happen, and then you will see our reaction.”
We won’t allow anti-democratic forces - Shettima
Speaking further, the Arewa youths leader said anti-democratic forces calling for the annulment of a very successful election are enemies of democracy and will be resisted.
Warning those calling for an interim government to stop immediately, Shettima said:
“We cannot allow our democracy to be undermined by agents of anti-democratic forces. The election was free and fair and if you have any grudges, please go to court. And if eventually, the court proves otherwise, so be it, but never undermine our democracy.
"We cannot go back to the old era when people sit in their comfort zones and call for anarchy. Never!”
Photos emerge as vice-president-elect Kashim Shettima Visits Buhari's powerful nephew
Kashim Shettima, the vice president-elect, visited Mamman Daura, a nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, over the weekend.
Mamman Daura hosted the vice-president-elect and former governor of Borno state in his residence.
According to Shettima, Mallam Mamman Daura was his boss when they worked at the African International Bank.
Source: Legit.ng
Nnenna Ibeh Nnenna Ibeh is a journalist with over 10 years of experience with various media organisations including Premium Times. Being on the front burner of reporting politics and the different dimensions of governance, she is also passionate about girls' education and women's and children's health. With degrees in Journalism, Peace Studies & Conflict Res., and Dev. Studies, Nnenna has worked in the dev. sector as a communications officer for the Centre for Democracy and Dev. email: ibehnnenna@gmail.com
Adoyi Ali Ali Adoyi is a prolific writer and a graduate of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State. Adoyi holds a B.A Theatre and Communications Arts. He has bagged many awards both in academics and in journalism. Some of the awards are 10 years Journalism Merit Award, Best graduating student (Dept) Most Outstanding student (Faculty), and others. Adoyi can be reached here: adoyi.ali@corp.legit.ng
