…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Osita Chidoka, an ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Aviation, has expressed his disappointment in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and called for the removal of its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Chidoka criticized INEC as a disappointment and voiced his dissatisfaction with the Chairman and other executives of the electoral body.
Chidoka’s Call for Yakubu’s Sacking
As a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chidoka urged President Bola Tinubu to remove Yakubu from his position due to what he perceived as a failure to deliver an effective electoral process during the 2023 general elections.
Drawing a parallel with the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, Chidoka argued that Yakubu should face a panel inquiry just like Emefiele did.
Critique of INEC’s Handling of Elections
Chidoka expressed his belief that Yakubu should have addressed critical issues surrounding Nigerians’ ability to freely exercise their voting rights during the elections.
He criticized the INEC Chairman for not setting up a panel to investigate the controversies and challenges that arose from the election process, considering the significant impact it had on the nation.
Assessment of New Service Chiefs’ Appointments
Regarding the appointment of the new Service Chiefs, Chidoka acknowledged President Tinubu’s efforts in distributing the appointments fairly across the country’s six geopolitical zones within the last four weeks.
He noted that the enthusiasm and reactions to the appointments were a result of the shared trauma experienced during President Buhari’s tenure.
Fairness in Appointment Distribution
Chidoka stated that, in his view, the appointments were largely fair and spread across the country.
He commended the equitable distribution of appointments across the six geopolitical zones, although he emphasized that the issue was of lesser importance compared to other pressing matters.