INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, isolated in history over Ghana

Posted by admin Today's Politics, Africa & World Politics, Headlines, INEC Politics, Latest Politics Saturday, December 21st, 2024

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Emmanuel Aziken

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, may be reputed in academia as a professor of history but he is better known for his role as national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC since 2015.

However, he has found himself isolated in his narration of modern history after his claims on the recent elections in Ghana.

Speaking as part of the Nigerian observer team, Prof Yakubu spoke of how the election management body in Ghana learnt lessons from the INEC led by him. He particularly cited the lesson in fast tracking release of election results as a component of a free and fair election.

Saturday Vanguard reports that John Mahama, candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was elected the winner of the election. Though the election was preceded by tension, the country heaved a big sigh of relief penultimate Sunday when the outgoing vice-president of the country and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, NPP, Mahmudu Bawumia threw in the towel with just about half of the results released.

The concession by the ruling party candidate was upon projections and unannounced results that showed he had lost to the former president, Mahama.

Reacting to the results, INEC’s Yakubu said: “In Nigeria, this is what we have done and they (Ghana) borrowed a leaf from us, and this is the second time they are implementing that. That is why, as you can see, the declaration of the presidential election result was a lot faster than it used to be in the past.”

His assertion was shocking given that it took Yakubu at least three days to declare the presidential election results in February 2023. That was despite the fact that voters in many instances were bludgeoned and the INEC did not contest the results that were allegedly twisted in some collation centres.

Against the quiet acceptance of all the major candidates of the outcome of the election even before the details were compiled by the Ghana Electoral Commission, the election conducted by Yakubu was challenged by all major candidates up to the Supreme Court.

Saturday Vanguard reports that even after the affirmation of the results by the Supreme Court that the court of Public Opinion is still unsparing of the INEC chief.

Expectedly, many took to social media to troll the INEC chief on his assertion of having laid the foundation for the election management body in Ghana to copy.

Civil rights lawyer Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor was one of those sufficiently provoked to issue a statement denouncing the INEC chairman over his claim in Ghana.

“I watched in utter disbelief as Nigeria’s own Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, lavished praise on his Ghanaian counterpart for conducting a credible election that saw an opposition leader emerge victorious as President-elect.

”For context, this is the same Prof. Yakubu, who presided over the widely criticized 2023 Nigerian presidential election, marred by massive irregularities and allegations of rigging in favour of the ruling party.

“In Ghana, the people’s votes were respected and they counted, a stark contrast to the Nigerian experience. Nigerians are still waiting for Prof. Yakubu to explain the so-called ‘glitch’ in INEC’s server that enabled the blatant subversion of the people’s will.

”This manipulated process robbed millions of their rightful mandate and undermined the essence of democracy.

“The consequences of that flawed election are evident in Nigeria’s current dire state. Tragically, those whose mandates were stolen bear the brunt of this crisis, left impoverished and disillusioned.

”As Ghana shines as a beacon of democratic integrity, Nigerians are left with a painful reminder of how far we have fallen. The road to redemption will be long, but the lesson is clear: no nation can thrive when the will of its people is silenced.”

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba was also dismissive of the INEC chairman. According to him the result in Ghana’s presidential election was uncontroverted after 24 hours unlike Yakubu who took the cover of the night to deliver his results.

“I don’t believe he said that. But if he said that, that would be consistent with the character of INEC in duplicitousness. If he said INEC taught Ghana, how come we cannot have a credible election in Edo State?”

“Almost 80 percent of the elections conducted by him were challenged in court. And that speaks to the integrity of the institution under him.

“In the (2023) presidential election, he declared results under the cover of the night, when Nigerians were sleeping. Ghana took 24 hours to do an election. In the elections conducted in Ghana, there was no corruption in BVAS. There were no back-end challenges. If INEC had taught them anything, they have untaught themselves what he (Yakubu) taught them,” he told a national daily.

The Secretary General of the Northern States and FCT chapter of CAN, Elder Sunday Oibe was also quoted by The Sun as roiling in laughter over the assertions by Professor Yakubu.

“When I read the comment by the Nigerian electoral umpire on the outcome of Ghana election, I couldn’t help but laugh at him. It is like a case of a man who’s incapable of impregnating his own wives but has the courage to comment on a newly wedded wife who is yet to see any sign of pregnancy or otherwise. If I were him, I would rather seal my mouth rather than praising what he couldn’t achieve in his country but chooses to praise those who allowed the wishes of the people to speak in an election.”

Saturday Vanguard reports that chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC who had in the past intervened to defend Professor Yakubu were miffed themselves and chose to abstain from the controversy over the INEC chief’s jaunt to Ghana.

VANGUARD