Di African Democratic Congress (ADC) don para give President Bola Tinubu over im decision to nominate di former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as ambassador. ADC say di move no only “embarrassingly insensitive,” e also dey scatter public trust for Nigeria election matter.
For statement wey land on Sunday, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi say di nomination dey suspicious, especially as e come less than two years afta Yakubu oversee di 2023 election wey many Nigerians still dey call “controversial,” and wey bring Tinubu enter power.
According to Abdullahi, to carry person wey just comot as election umpire put for political position fit make people believe say electoral officers dey work for political reward.
“Dis kain appointment dey blur di line wey suppose dey between referee and players,” he talk.
“If dem allow am stand, future INEC chairmen fit begin see their office as stepping stone to chop political appointment. Once dat kain mindset enter electoral system, neutrality don die, partisanship go begin reign, election go turn business deal.”
Abdullahi still add say if person look di nomination list well, almost all di names fall for three categories — former diplomats, political loyalists and their relatives, and members of di ruling party.
“We dey wonder which of these categories Prof. Yakubu enter,” he talk, say di whole thing dey “deeply unsettling.”
ADC come call on Nigerians, civil society and institutions make dem no gree for anything wey fit weaken election credibility. Dem also tell Yakubu make im reject di ambassadorial nomination for sake of national trust and for protect im own legacy.
“If him no reject am, we dey tell Senate make dem throway dis nomination for sake of democracy,” Abdullahi yarn.
Prof. Yakubu dey among 32 people wey Tinubu send go Senate on Saturday as ambassadorial nominees. Di list also include former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Di presidency talk say na career and non-career ambassadorial slots dem dey fill, and posting go begin afta Senate don approve.
Yakubu serve as INEC Chairman from 2015 reach 2025. During him time, he introduce systems like BVAS, IReV and continuous voter registration wey change how election dey happen for Nigeria.
