Former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu has made strong allegations against outgoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, suggesting his final actions in office were motivated by personal grievances against the president.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, Kachikwu claimed he anticipated the chairman’s controversial decisions before leaving office.
“I didn’t expect him (Mahmood Yakubu) to do anything otherwise. I knew that as the INEC chairman was leaving, I knew that he was going to give the president (Tinubu) a big middle finger and he was going to do anything to show his displeasure towards the president, and that’s what he did,” Kachikwu stated.
The former presidential candidate said he had predicted such actions, adding: “I’ve said this, I knew that this was what he was going to do and he did it.”
Kachikwu suggested the timing was deliberate, claiming Yakubu strategically waited until his departure was imminent to avoid accountability.
“Of course, he waited just a few weeks before leaving so he could do it and then no remorse. There’s nothing anybody can say to him. He’s gone,” he remarked.
The ADC chieftain went further to critique what he described as the broader dynamics of Nigerian politics, suggesting a culture of mutual protection among political actors.
“And again you’ll see what happens with the politics of Nigeria. When people have had dealings and have things that they’ve done that they’re hiding, nobody can say anything to him because they can’t afford to expose each other. And so he’s done what he’s done,” Kachikwu explained.
However, he expressed concern that his party and other reform-minded political movements were bearing the consequences of these power struggles.
“But unfortunately, my party—the party of Nigerians who are trying to see how they can rebuild Nigeria—we are the victims here. And when two elephants are fighting, the grass is the victim, and we ADC, we are the grass in this case,” he concluded.
The interview highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s political landscape and raises questions about the independence of electoral institutions during leadership transitions.
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