Lawyer and current affairs analyst Maxwell Opara has warned that Nigeria’s incoming INEC chairman may perform worse than outgoing Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu if the electoral act is not urgently reviewed. Speaking on Arise Television’s News Day, Opara described Yakubu’s tenure as one of the worst not only in Nigeria’s history but globally.
Prof. Yakubu handed over to May Agbamuche, the oldest serving National Commissioner and Acting National Chairman of INEC, on Tuesday. The handover followed Yakubu’s announcement during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
Opara alleged that Yakubu collaborated with politicians to undermine the Nigerian populace. He cited instances where candidates who did not participate in party primaries were allowed to contest elections, describing such occurrences as setting dangerous precedents.
He criticized technical failures in the IREV voter registration system, which left registered voters’ ballots uncounted, and argued that Yakubu’s tenure eroded public trust in elections. “Free and fair elections are key. Insecurity, inflation, and other societal issues are anchored on the integrity of elections,” Opara said.
The analyst also called for reform in the appointment process of the INEC chairman, arguing that the office should no longer fall under presidential control to prevent potential bias. “We need to wake up from our dream. The President appointing someone who may not act independently undermines democracy,” he stated.
Opara concluded that Yakubu’s actions, particularly during the 2019 and 2023 general elections, damaged Nigeria’s democratic credibility and contributed to a negative economic and political image.