A civil society group, OurMumuDonDo, convened by Charles Oputa, aka Charlyboy, has on Friday demanded the prosecution of former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, over his rigging admission.
At a visit to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, the group demanded that Mantu should be prosecuted for electoral malpractices.
In their letter to INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, the Charlyboy-led group said Mantu should be arraigned for allegedly “subverting the will of the people during several elections.”
The letter reads: “This is a good opportunity for the electoral commission to demonstrate its resolve to prosecute electoral offenders as a deterrent to others.”
“As we have mentioned in our previous engagements with the INEC, the number of Nigerians going to the polling booths has been in a consistent decline since 2003 and the reason for this, among other disturbing factors, is the downright rigging of elections — a vile act which blatantly infringes on the right of the Nigerian people to freely exercise their franchise.
“It is therefore imperative that the electoral umpire, the INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the law enforcement agencies, rise to this clarion call to prosecute Senator Mantu and all his accomplices.”
A few days ago, the former Deputy Senate President had said he helped the PDP rig elections by bribing officials of INEC as well as security agents.
“Let me tell you one thing, yes I did. I am now confessing the truth.
“What do I need? I don’t have to go and change election… but you know, when you provide money, you give money to INEC boys to help you, if they see any chance, they should favour you. You also provide money to the security,” he said.
