By John Ikani
Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu was nominated by the camp of Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Tinubu to head the electoral body.
Amaechi made this known while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote at Ward 8, Unit 14, Ubima Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State in the ongoing governorship and state assemblies polls.
The former minister who expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing elections in Rivers, stressed that although the election was peaceful in his community, “there are reports of the arrest of candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as candidates of other opposition parties.”
He further alleged that he had received reports of fake election materials being circulated for the polls, stressing that the development was indicative of a failure of governance and democratic institutions.
When asked if he could proffer solutions to irregularities bedevilling free and fair conduct of the polls, Amaechi retorted that he has run out of giving advice.
According to him: “What advice? I have spoken to everyone concerned about these issues before the election. There are those of us who opposed the appointment of the INEC Chairman. The person who nominated him for the position is a member of Tinubu’s Camp. What do you expect, success?
“Here in Rivers State, Mahmood worked under Wike as Executive Secretary of TETFUND, as a result, we are witnessing APC, SDP and other parties contesting elections not against the ruling PDP but against INEC and the police.
“The situation is completely hopeless. Notwithstanding, I have urged my party members to exercise their franchise.”
