A former presidential candidate, Peter Ameh has slammed the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu as he leaves the helm of affairs at the institution.
Ameh, in a statement issued on Tuesday described Yakubu’s leadership as the electoral umpire of the nation as disastrous and a dark chapter in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He said that Yakubu’s tenure was marked by egregious corruption, staggering incompetence, and authoritarian overreach and left an indelible stain on the nation’s electoral institution.
According to Ameh, rather than upholding the sacred responsibility of ensuring free, fair, and credible elections, Yakubu’s reign eroded public trust in democracy and undermined the integrity of INEC.
The political analyst also noted that Yakubu’s performance and disregard for accountability not only betray Nigerians’ trust in INEC as an institution but also jeopardised the very foundations of the country’s democratic aspirations.
“The damage inflicted by Yakubu’s leadership extends beyond the electoral process to the very institution he was tasked with stewarding.
“INEC staff, the backbone of the commission, were treated with callous disregard, akin to disposable commodities. Denied promotions, basic benefits, and adequate support, employees operated in an environment of demoralisation and neglect,” Ameh stated.
The former presidential candidate in his statement insinuated that by championing the insertion of Section 225A into the Electoral Act, the outgoing chairman successfully granted INEC the power to deregister political parties of individuals whom he considers opposition.
Ameh said that the 2023 general election under the supervision of Yakubu has automatically become a symbol of frustration against the will of the people.
Also addressing the expenditures made by INEC during the last poll, Ameh noted that Yakubu failed to deliver credibility despite the N350 billion allocated for the 2023 election.
He said, “As Mahmoud Yakubu exits INEC, he leaves behind a fractured institution and a nation grappling with the wreckage of his tenure.
“The task of rebuilding trust in INEC and restoring faith in democracy will require extraordinary effort, but it begins with acknowledging the scale of Yakubu’s failures.
“Nigeria deserves an electoral commission that upholds the will of the people, not one that serves as a tool for manipulation and oppression. Yakubu’s departure offers a glimmer of hope, but the scars of his tenure will linger as a clear reminder of the cost of entrusting democracy to those who betray it,” he said.