Next Chairman May Be Worse, Except Electoral Act Is Reviewed- Lawyer, Opara
Lawyer and current affairs analyst Maxwell Opara has warned that the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could be worse than his predecessor, Mahmood Yakubu, if the Electoral Act is not reviewed.
He gave the warning on Wednesday while speaking on Arise Television’s News Day, describing the outgone Chairman as the worst not just in the history of Nigeria but the entire globe.
Recall that Prof Yakubu handed over to May Agbamuche as the Acting National Chairman of INEC on Tuesday.
Agbamuche is the oldest serving National Commissioner in the electoral body.
Prof Yakubu announced his stepping down during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs.
Opara alleged that Yakubu worked with the politicians and the power that be against Nigerian people.
According to him, it was during Yakubu’s time in office that somebody who never participated in a primary election became the candidate for the political party.
“I don’t know where to start. So the point I’m making generally is that Professor Mahmood failed this country,” he added.
“He brought in a very bad precedent that the person that is coming.. the person that is coming may be worse than him.
“I’ m saying that the person may be worse than him because unless we amend this Electoral Act and correct all those irregularities that we have seen…, because judiciary also assisted him in those irregularities, where they say that a policy made by an institution is no longer part of the law.
“Because you made a policy, and it was based on that your policy that people risked their lives, from Asia, America and the UK to Nigeria to come and register. After registering, they went back during the election, they came back to vote only for you to tell them that their votes were not captured by IREV because of the technical glitch.
“So, I don’t know how to describe him. In fact, I don’t even know how Professor Yakubu will go to sleep with his two eyes closed, considering what is happening in this country.
“So free and fair election is the key. If you’re talking about insecurity, it anchors on free and fair elections. If you’re talking about inflation, if you’re talking about whatever thing that is going on in the society is anchored on free and fair elections.
“So when you now allow an expired criminal to enter into National Assembly, or you give him the helm of affairs of the state, where he will be controlling allocations coming to the state and various local government, you cannot give what you don’t have.
“So, the point I’m making is that he destroyed the economy of this country. That is the naked truth. He contributed in giving a very bad image to this country.
“So, I don’t know how the President is going to appoint somebody that will not do his bidding. That’s why we are also calling that the appointment of the INEC Chairman should be removed from the Office of the President.
“So are you saying that the President will go and appoint somebody that will not work with him in 2027 we need to wake up from our dream.
“His conscience will judge him whether what he did in that 2019 general election, and the one he did in 2023 general election, whether he announced those results in line with the mandate of the masses of this country.”