Former Minister of Transportation and two-term Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused Maurice Iwu and Mahmood Yakubu—both past and current chairmen of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—of overseeing what he described as the worst elections since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Amaechi, who made the remarks while speaking on the challenges surrounding the registration of the opposition coalition’s preferred political platform, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), did not mince words in expressing his discontent with the electoral umpire.
“After Maurice Iwu, Mahmood Yakubu has conducted the worst election in Nigeria,” Amaechi declared, referencing the controversial 2023 general election widely criticised for irregularities.
Iwu Conducted the Election That Brought Me In – Amaechi Admits
Interestingly, Amaechi himself emerged as governor in 2007 during Iwu’s tenure as INEC chairman—a period marked by widespread allegations of electoral malpractice. It was the same election that produced the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, who publicly acknowledged the flawed nature of the poll that brought him to power.
Despite benefiting from that electoral process, Amaechi now joins the ranks of those criticising the integrity of elections held under Iwu’s watch.
INEC Under Fire Over Coalition Party Registration
Amaechi, a prominent member of the newly formed opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also revealed that he was part of a committee tasked with registering ADA as the coalition’s official political vehicle. However, he admitted that the group has yet to submit essential details such as the party’s official address and list of executives—key requirements for registration by INEC.
Even so, the former minister maintained that other parties that had fulfilled similar requirements had been denied registration by the Yakubu-led commission, fueling suspicions of bias and obstruction.
“There are parties that have done everything necessary, but INEC under Yakubu has refused to register them,” he alleged.
“Nigerians Must Rise Against INEC’s Failures” – Amaechi
The former minister didn’t stop at criticism. He called on Nigerians to confront what he described as the growing rot in the country’s electoral system, arguing that continued silence would only enable further decline.
“The best thing is for Nigerians to rise up against the electoral body. We cannot continue like this,” he said.
From Power Broker to Fierce Critic
Amaechi, who served in various high-level roles including Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, state governor, and later as Minister of Transportation under President Muhammadu Buhari, has emerged as a vocal critic of the current administration two years after exiting government.
Once a staunch ally of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his recent moves—including his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition and his public condemnation of INEC—mark a dramatic political shift as Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections.
His comments come amid increasing scrutiny of Nigeria’s electoral institutions and the role they may play in determining the shape of the country’s next political transition.
