Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed his profound disappointment in the current leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
George, who had previously been a supporter of Yakubu’s leadership, now describes the INEC chairman’s performance as a “bad joke.” Speaking to journalists at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence, George made it clear that he felt ashamed of Yakubu’s handling of electoral matters in Nigeria, especially after the INEC chairman publicly shared lessons from Ghana’s recent presidential election.
George lamented that while Yakubu was once seen as a competent leader, his current actions and decisions have severely undermined public confidence in the electoral process. According to George, Yakubu’s conduct has tarnished the reputation he once enjoyed, and what was once considered a symbol of integrity in Nigeria’s electoral body is now a source of embarrassment.
In addition to his criticism of the INEC chairman, George also weighed in on the political landscape in Nigeria, predicting that President Bola Tinubu would not be re-elected in 2027. He argued that the widespread dissatisfaction and disillusionment with the current administration would make it difficult for Tinubu to secure another term. George pointed to what he described as a “vacancy in the presidency” in 2027, driven by the deepening anger and frustration felt by the Nigerian people. He stressed that both the level of anger and the level of hunger across the country are nearly equal, indicating that the Nigerian populace is increasingly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.
The PDP elder statesman also took aim at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of being a “congregation of strange bedfellows” with no cohesive vision for the country. George questioned the well-being of Nigerians, saying that it was impossible to find any region of the country where people were genuinely content with the present government. For George, the situation on the streets of Nigeria is one of deep discontent, where the anger of the people matches the hunger they are enduring. This, he argued, paints a grim picture for the future of Nigeria’s political stability and the prospects of the current government remaining in power for much longer.
