By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has made case for the replacement of the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, with the uncompromising Returning Officer for Abia State governorship election and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Professor Nnenna Oti.

COSEYL made the call in a statement jointly signed by its President General, Mr Goodluck Ibem; and Publicity Secretary, Mr Okey Nwaoru, said by rejecting financial inducement from politicians and insisting on accreditation by the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, she had demonstrated that she could fix Nigeria’s wobbling electoral process, if given the opportunity.

This is, as the coalition also said, it would honour the Returning Officer with “Hero of Democracy” award for standing upright.

COSEYL said that Professor Oti’s uncompromising posture and insistence on the right things saved the situation in Abia State.

According to the coalition, the Returning Officer had demonstrated that there were still honest Nigerians with proven integrity that could be trusted.

The statement made available to News Express reads: “We came to the conclusion because of her outstanding performance, resilience and determination to speak and defend the truth. She is a true example of what a true Christian should be. She is a role model for anyone who aspires to be great in life should emulate.

“Of a truth, she has proved beyond every reasonable doubt that we still have women of integrity left in our nation who will not do the wrong thing, no matter the amount of money involved.

“Professor Nnenna Oti’s rejection of billions of naira offered to her by an interested political party to upturn the will of the people who voted massively for Dr. Alex Oti as their Governor has entered into the annals of the nation as one of the wonders of the world.”

COSEYL advocated her appointment as the National Chairman of INEC, saying that a strong character like her was needed to fix the Commission.

“If a personality like Professor Nnenna Oti was the Chairman INEC, the nation would not have been in the mournful mood, the way it is presently.

“If a woman of integrity and courage like Professor Oti was the National Chairman of INEC, the out pouring of resplendent joy today in Abia State, would have been replicated in all the nooks and crannies of the nation.

“The appointment of the INEC National Chairman should not be done based on one’s tribe, religion or relationship with the President of the country, but it should be based on integrity, competence and courage to stand for the truth. The INEC National Chairman should be a person who will stand for the truth and allow the will of the people to prevail.

“If a personality like Professor Oti is appointed the INEC National Chairman, the State Resident Electoral Commissioners, Returning Officers, Local Government Electoral officers and all INEC staff will sit up and conduct themselves accordingly. They will not be involved in bribery and returning the highest bidder as elected which is against the popular will of the people.

“We salute her courage to defend the truth and will of Abians who voted for Dr. Alex Oti as their Governor in the just concluded governorship election in Abia State.

“History will be kind to her and all through her life, God, in his infinite mercy, will show her and her family compassion and love.”

Recall that a governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Chikwe Udensi, had promised to gift Oti with N100 million to encourage her for rejecting financial inducements during the governorship poll.

Similarly, another business mogul, Chief Steven Ukpabi, also has promised her a brand new Prado jeep.

She had refused to admit an inflated result from Obingwa Local Government Area, insisting on the accredited voters captured by BVAS.

During the collation of results at the INEC headquarters, Umuahia, Professor Otti had intermittently declared that the ‘Pastor and mother” in her would not allow her to compromise.