The National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has strongly criticized Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for publicly commending Ghana’s recently concluded presidential election.
Reports from Gists9ja revealed that Yakubu had praised the election, attributing its success to Ghana’s innovations and political stability. He emphasized that the consistency of political party structures and the loyalty of voters were the key factors contributing to the electoral triumph in Ghana.
However, Eze has dismissed Yakubu’s remarks as self-serving, hypocritical, and outright foolish. In a statement issued to the press, the APC chieftain expressed his disbelief at Yakubu’s praise of Ghana, accusing the INEC chairman of betraying the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. He stated, “It is deeply troubling to learn that Yakubu has chosen to align himself with a narrative that undermines Nigeria’s fledgling democracy. His actions are a glaring testament to the most dangerous tactics used to manipulate and destabilize the electoral process in our country.”
Eze continued by criticizing the INEC chairman’s tenure, pointing out that the majority of the elections conducted under Yakubu’s leadership failed to meet the basic standards expected of democratic elections. He emphasized that instead of focusing on praising foreign electoral systems, Yakubu should be addressing the significant flaws and irregularities that marred elections within Nigeria.
The APC chieftain’s statement highlighted the growing concerns over the credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria, as well as the perceived disconnect between INEC’s leadership and the actual conditions of the country’s elections. According to Eze, this blind admiration of Ghana’s election system is a form of hypocrisy, as it glosses over the problems facing Nigeria’s own electoral framework.
Eze concluded by calling for a more critical examination of the conduct of elections within Nigeria and urged Yakubu to prioritize reforms aimed at ensuring the integrity of future elections in the country. His comments reflect broader frustrations within Nigerian politics regarding the state of the nation’s democratic processes and the role of electoral bodies in safeguarding the will of the people.
