Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has strongly
criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the
leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, describing it as a “national disgrace.”
Peterside made the remarks during an interview on Channels
Television’s Politics Today on Monday, while reacting to the recent change
of leadership at the electoral body that saw Professor Joash Amupitan succeed
Yakubu as INEC Chairman.
“I will never say never, but the INEC that was led by
Mahmood Yakubu was a national disgrace,” Peterside said. “You just have to go
on their IReV and see the result sheets — mutilated, figures changed, and in
some cases, they even forget to change the words.”
He also took aim at the judiciary, accusing it of
failing to uphold justice in electoral matters. Peterside backed calls for
reforms that would shift the burden of proof in election petitions to INEC.
“I agree with Senator Dickson that the burden of proof
should shift to INEC,” he said. “You can’t allow a situation where INEC brings
out rubbish results and still expect the victims to prove they’re wrong when
it’s obvious to everyone.”
Peterside warned that the continued loss of public
confidence in both INEC and the judiciary could push Nigerians toward self-help
in future elections if trust is not restored.
President Bola Tinubu swore in Professor Amupitan as
the new INEC Chairman on October 23, following his confirmation by the Senate
on October 16. Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who led the
Commission from 2015 to October 2025.
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