Amaechi Explained Why He Believes INEC No Longer Supports Free and Fair Elections

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has openly criticized the current leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming the institution has lost its credibility and no longer supports free and fair elections in Nigeria.

During an appearance on Arise TV on Tuesday night, Amaechi drew a stark comparison between the present INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and his predecessor, Prof. Attahiru Jega. According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would never have won the 2015 general elections if Yakubu had been in charge of the electoral body at the time.

“The current chairman of INEC, if he was chairman in 2015, we would not have won,” Amaechi asserted.
“That’s an important point. May God bless Jega. Because the ground rules were clear.”

He credited Jega’s transparent and structured leadership as instrumental to APC’s registration and eventual electoral victory. He emphasized that Jega allowed the process to run its course, while Yakubu’s leadership, he alleged, would have blocked such democratic progress, even with full compliance.

“When we registered APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the requirements. He got APC registered. The current chairman, even if you comply, would not register you,” he said.

Amaechi’s remarks pointed to a deeper concern over what he described as state capture through electoral institutions. He likened Yakubu’s conduct to that of former INEC chairman Maurice Iwu, whose tenure was marred by widespread criticism and allegations of electoral manipulation.

“Already, INEC is biased,” Amaechi said bluntly.
“Looking at the way Nigeria has run the election, even the Option A4 system led us forward. At least there was transparency. You were sure of what was going on. But now, with people like Iwu and the current one, things got worse.”

Amaechi lamented what he perceives as a systematic regression in Nigeria’s democratic processes, stating that the electoral body, once a symbol of progress and credibility, is now being used as a tool for consolidating power by those in government.

“So, you don’t know whether to say we are progressing or regressing. There’s a state capture using the electoral institution as a machine,” he concluded.

His comments have sparked heated debate online, with many Nigerians echoing similar concerns about the integrity and independence of INEC under the current administration.

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