As the 2027 general elections draw closer, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi has levelled serious allegations against INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of deliberately preventing the registration of new political parties.
“INEC is already preventing parties from registering,” Amaechi said during an interview on Arise TV aired Tuesday. “It has abandoned neutrality and taken sides. The so-called reforms benefit no one because the playing field isn’t level.”
He alleged that the electoral commission is undermining fair competition by keeping potential challengers out of the race.
Tinubu’s Government Faces Allegations of Electoral Manipulation
Amaechi also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of ignoring the law and using the electoral system to suppress opposition voices.
“This government doesn’t even follow the law,” he said. “They’ve captured the electoral system and are using it to control and enslave Nigerians. That should never happen.”
The former transport minister said the National Assembly should have allowed Attahiru Jega, a former INEC chairman, to stay in office until reforms are completed.
“The Electoral Act permits party registration, yet this INEC blocks opposition groups,” Amaechi claimed. “The constitution should be reviewed to retain someone like Jega, who has a conscience. What we saw in 2015 was transparent.”
So far, INEC has not responded to these accusations.
Amaechi’s claims follow reports that INEC stalled the registration of over 104 new political parties. Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Amaechi, continue to accuse the Tinubu administration of weaponising poverty.
Nenadi Usman, acting national chairman of the Labour Party, also spoke out. She accused the ruling APC of using state funds to silence opposition and urged all parties to unite against President Tinubu in 2027.
In response, APC spokesman Felix Morka dismissed Amaechi’s comments as “disruptive politicking.”
“Nigerians see through their tactics,” Morka said. “Amaechi and his allies thrived on exploiting the economy. Now, Tinubu’s reforms demand hard work, productivity, and innovation.”
He added, “Their criticism is self-serving. It stems from a hunger for power and a rent-seeking mindset that stunted Nigeria’s growth for years.”
