PDP, Labour Party Slam INEC Chairman Over Comments On Ghana’s Presidential Election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have criticized the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, following his commendation of Ghana’s recent presidential election. Yakubu had praised the peaceful and credible nature of the Ghanaian polls, in which ex-President John Mahama of the opposition party defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the candidate of the ruling party.

Yakubu, in a video on Sunday, highlighted lessons for Nigeria from the rancor-free conduct of the Ghana election, sparking backlash from opposition parties.

Labour Party’s Reaction

The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Yakubu of hypocrisy, alleging that his poor handling of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election disqualifies him from advising others.

“It is a shame that the INEC Chairman should be talking when he should be the one learning from Ghana,” Ifoh said. “He owes Nigerians an apology. We didn’t hear of electoral violence, ballot box snatching, or glitches in Ghana. Their votes counted, and the people are happy with the outcome. Meanwhile, Nigerians are still reeling from the manipulations of the 2023 election under his watch.”

The LP candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, who came third behind PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and APC’s Bola Tinubu, challenged the election results in court alongside Atiku but lost. However, Ifoh stated that the party had moved on from the debacle while maintaining that Yakubu’s leadership had failed Nigerians.

PDP’s Position

Echoing similar sentiments, the PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticized Yakubu’s involvement in Ghana’s election, describing it as an “aberration.” Osadolor called for Yakubu to resign and apologize for his role in what he termed a compromised 2023 electoral process.

“Apologizing to Nigerians now may be belated, but it is necessary. If I were him, I would apologize and resign. His tenure has been a working example of inconsistency and unfairness,” Osadolor said.

He questioned Yakubu’s conscience, asking if the INEC chairman could sincerely claim satisfaction with his handling of the 2023 general elections. Osadolor added, “He should borrow a leaf from people of integrity. When credibility is being discussed, Yakubu should sit quietly and listen, not pontificate about lessons from Ghana.”

Criticisms of the 2023 Elections

The 2023 presidential election, won by President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was marred by allegations of irregularities, violence, and logistical failures. Despite Yakubu’s assurances of a credible process, opposition parties and international observers flagged significant shortcomings.

The PDP and LP maintain that Yakubu’s leadership failed to uphold the principles of transparency and fairness, a stark contrast to the peaceful and credible election recently conducted in Ghana.

Call for Accountability

Both parties reiterated their demand for Yakubu to take responsibility for the perceived shortcomings of the 2023 elections. They also questioned his credibility in participating in discussions on electoral reforms and urged him to focus on rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.