BREAKING: CUPP uncovers plot to remove INEC Chairman over use of BIVAS

Adeleye Kunle Reports

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Wednesday raised alarm over an alleged plot to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu in order to compromise the 2023 general elections.

National Chairman of CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the opposition parties, made the allegation at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the coalition has also uncovered fresh plots to deactivate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) from being used in the election. Similarly efforts are geared towards stopping electronic transmission of results at the polls, Ugochinyere alleges.

The CUPP, which comprises the majority of the opposition political parties, including the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party.

Ugochinyere alleged that the plot was being spearheaded by a top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East region of the party.

The coalition had previously accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma of alleged voter registration fraud in the state, prompting a response from INEC.

The group cited the recent arrest of INEC officials in Imo State and detained by the DSS over a week without prosecution as parts of plan to intimidate the electoral umpire staffers and subsequently remove the Chairman just like the Chief Justice of Nigeria was removed from office before the 2019 general elections.