Former Minister of Transportation and a key figure in Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Amaechi, has stirred political conversation with a bold statement, claiming that the APC would not have secured victory in the 2015 general elections if the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had been in charge at the time.
Amaechi made the remarks during a political gathering over the weekend, where he reflected on the political climate that led to the APC’s historic defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former President Goodluck Jonathan. He attributed the party’s success in 2015 to what he described as a more credible and transparent electoral process under the former INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
“If Professor Mahmood Yakubu had been the INEC chairman in 2015, APC wouldn’t have won,” Amaechi said pointedly. “We had a fair election under Jega, but what we are seeing now under Yakubu is a different story entirely.”
The former Rivers State governor’s comments have sparked intense reactions from political stakeholders, analysts, and civil society groups. Many see the statement as a veiled criticism of the 2023 general elections, which faced widespread allegations of electoral irregularities, voter suppression, and technological failures, particularly in the transmission of results through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Amaechi’s remarks are particularly significant given his prominent role in the formation and early victories of the APC. As the Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 campaign, he was instrumental in mobilizing support and forging alliances that led to the first democratic transfer of power from one political party to another in Nigeria’s history.
Political analysts believe Amaechi’s latest comments reflect deepening discontent within the APC’s ranks and could signal a brewing internal struggle over the party’s future and the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system. Some suggest the statement may be aimed at distancing himself from the party’s current leadership and electoral conduct.
Meanwhile, INEC has not officially responded to Amaechi’s statement, but sources within the commission insist that the 2023 elections were conducted in accordance with the law and improvements were made in voter technology and logistics.
Opposition parties, particularly the PDP and Labour Party, have seized on Amaechi’s comments as validation of their longstanding claims that the 2023 elections were flawed and lacking in transparency. “This confirms what we have said all along — the 2023 elections were compromised,” said a PDP spokesperson. “Even APC insiders are now admitting the truth.”
As Nigeria gears up for future elections and ongoing electoral reforms, Amaechi’s critique adds fuel to the national conversation on the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions. Whether his remarks will inspire meaningful change or merely stir political controversy remains to be seen.
Swifteradio.com
