In 2023, two courageous young artistes, comprising the son of legal Czar Femi Falana SAN, Folarin Falana (Falz) and Olanrewaju Ogunmefun (Vector Tha Viper), surfaced with a bombshell album, ‘Mr. Yakubu.’ This powerful evocation aimed to spotlight anomalies in the electoral system of their country. The song, unusually confrontational, exposed the then INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, as someone with character deficits and fraudulent tendencies. With gripping visuals and a revolutionary voice, the track critically addressed institutions that falter in their core responsibilities. It was a moment of artistic inspiration, where disillusioned youth spoke fire to their government and its failing institutions.
This assertive message did not sit well with the authorities. The backlash was evident as they threatened to ban the song, which clinically explored the realities facing Nigeria. It exposed an alleged heist perpetrated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had made hollow promises leading up to the elections. Appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, Mahmoud Yakubu, despite his impressive academic credentials, became embroiled in controversy over his leadership.
Yakubu’s academic credentials are substantial. He has earned a First-Class degree in history and advanced degrees from prestigious institutions, including a doctorate from the University of Oxford. His academic prowess is undeniable. However, being an intellectual does not exempt him from accountability as the head of INEC. Evaluating his performance reveals flaws that provoke serious concern about his tenacity in preserving the integrity of the electoral process.
Since Nigeria’s independence, 13 chief electoral officers have held the office, with Yakubu becoming the first to serve two consecutive terms. His tenure witnessed the largest number of elections in the country’s history, including general elections and numerous governorship polls. While one can applaud his efforts to build institutional memory and preserve Nigeria’s democratic history, it is crucial to address the shortcomings that have marred his leadership.
Yakubu’s firmness was evident during the elections in Zamfara and Rivers states, where he stood firm against political pressures. However, these examples of strength stand in stark contrast to the criticisms levied against him for conducting one of the most condemned presidential elections in Nigeria’s democratic history. Despite his promises to ensure that votes were properly vetted and monitored, issues persisted—including missing voter registers and allegations of vote buying.
I am particularly disturbed by the resurgence of his name in an Ambassadorial Nomination list released recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not because I consider him incompetent but because I am of the strong opinion that such event betrays integrity, principles; it also exposed a man who will give anything to remain in the service of the people and public spotlight. In all fairness, Mahmoud Yakubu qualifies as one of the egg heads in that list, considering his stellar academic accomplishments in the areas of history and International Relations, but there is no doubt in the fact that he qualifies for one of the most politically conscious Chairmen that had administered INEC. If he could lobby his way to break an age-long jinx in INEC by bagging unprecedented two terms, he could have also lobbied to make the Ambassadorial list since the list is replete with names of spouses of former APC Governors, BATIFIED praise-singers, political loyalists. The precondition to making that list is being a believer in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision or its apologist, after making that, you can now brandish your academic achievements.
The former INEC Chairman’s recent nomination for an ambassadorial role has raised eyebrows. While his qualifications are commendable, the appointment appears to undermine the principles of electoral integrity and independence. Critics, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, called the nomination “ill-timed, inappropriate, and injurious” to the independence of the electoral commission. This criticism highlights a pressing concern: a democracy where those who oversee elections are rewarded by those who win them erodes trust in public institutions.
As soon as a kingmaker agrees to enlist as one of the foot-soldiers of the king, he has signed an unwritten agreement to part with his prestige, honour. Yoruba adage also states it clearly that whoever will eat with devil must wield a long spoon. Even President Bola Tinubu, the touted godfather of Lagos politics and the kingmaker who calls the shots in the ruling APC during the Buhari era, never accepted to serve under the administration except through recommendations.
Furthermore, it begs the question of why Mahmoud Yakubu, a respected academic, would choose to validate the claim that the last presidential election was rigged by pursuing political patronage. Why not return to academia, as Professor Attahiru Jega did after his tenure? The sentiment among many is that such patronage exemplifies a troubling trend where electoral officials compromise their integrity for political allegiance.
While clarifying that no law forbids the nomination of former INEC Chairpersons to political or diplomatic appointments, the spirit of democratic ethics demands a cooling-off period before such individuals are considered for positions conferred by political office holders.
In the face of these challenges, the Nigerian Senate must act to uphold the credibility of INEC and restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral institutions. The normalization of political patronage in electoral politics is a dangerous precedent that threatens the very heart of democracy.
Nigerians, inspired by fearless voices like Falz and Vector, deserve leaders who prioritize their commitment to serving the public good over seeking validation from those in power. It is crucial for the Senate and civil society to champion the principles of electoral integrity, ensuring that our democratic values are preserved for generations to come.
