2027: Amaechi Accuses INEC Chairman of Bias, Questions Integrity of Nigeria’s Electoral Body
In a scathing rebuke that underscores the growing distrust in Nigeria’s electoral process, former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi has openly accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deep-seated bias under its current leadership, warning that the body can no longer be trusted to conduct free and fair elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News Tuesday evening, Amaechi criticized INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, drawing a sharp contrast between him and former INEC chief Attahiru Jega, who oversaw the 2015 elections that ushered the All Progressives Congress (APC) into power.
“If Mahmood Yakubu had been INEC Chairman in 2015, APC would never have come to power,” Amaechi said. “May God bless Jega. The current chairman can only be compared to Maurice Iwu,” he added, referencing another former INEC boss widely criticized for his role in disputed elections under the Obasanjo administration.
Amaechi, one of several key political figures forming a new opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027, further alleged that under Yakubu’s watch, INEC has become hostile to new political movements, stifling democratic expansion.
“When we were registering APC, Jega opened the door, followed the rules, and got us registered. But this current chairman, even if you meet all the requirements, he will find a way not to register you. INEC is already biased,” Amaechi stated.
Growing Crisis of Credibility
These comments are the latest in a series of accusations that have eroded public trust in Nigeria’s electoral commission. INEC, once seen as a pillar of democratic development under Jega, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years especially following the controversial 2023 elections, which many civil society groups and observers described as flawed, opaque, and lacking transparency.
Despite repeated claims of technological improvements and electoral reforms, the commission has been dogged by allegations of manipulated results, voter suppression, disenfranchisement, and partisan favoritism especially toward the ruling APC.
A Dangerous Precedent
Amaechi’s remarks hint at a deeper crisis: the weaponization of electoral institutions for political control. By allegedly shutting the door to opposition movements, INEC risks not just undermining its credibility, but also stoking national instability in a country already burdened by insecurity and economic hardship.
Other notable figures reportedly involved in the budding coalition include former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar both of whom have previously expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the last elections.
Political analysts warn that unless INEC urgently restores public confidence through transparency, impartiality, and respect for the rule of law, the 2027 general elections may be marred by even deeper voter apathy, legal battles, and possible civil unrest.
As the countdown to 2027 begins, Nigerians are once again left to wonder: can the electoral umpire be trusted to act as a neutral arbiter or has INEC itself become a political tool in the hands of the powerful?
Reference
2027: Amaechi Accuses INEC Chairman of Bias, Questions Integrity of Nigeria’s Electoral Body