Politics

Amaechi accuses INEC chair of working for Wike in Rivers

The immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lashed out at the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over the conduct of the 2023 general election.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, said one of the loyalists of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, nominated Yakubu as INEC chairman.

The former minister stated that the INEC boss also worked under Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He decried the conduct of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not contest the elections against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but against INEC and the police in the state.

READ ALSO: Amaechi: Wike spends N50m weekly on alcohol

Amaechi said this while speaking to journalists after casting his vote at his polling unit in Rivers State on Saturday.

“There are those of us who opposed the reappointment of Mahmood. The person who nominated him for appointment is a member of Tinubu’s camp.

“So what are you expecting? Success? Here in Rivers State, Mahmood worked under Wike as the Executive Secretary of TETFund; so what we are having in Rivers State is that APC, SDP, and others are contesting the election not against PDP; against INEC, against police,” the former governor stated.

Amaechi vied for the APC presidential ticket but lost to Tinubu at the party’s primaries held in June 2022.

The former minister emerged as runner-up in the primaries.

He had since been campaigning for the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole.

The Rivers State chapters of the APC, National Rescue Movement (NRM), Accord, Action Alliance (AA), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had accused INEC of an alleged plot to rig Saturday’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in favour of the PDP in the state.

The parties said some top INEC officials were in connivance with officials of the Rivers State Government and the PDP to rig the polls in the state in favour of the party’s (PDP) candidates.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

N110bn fraud: Court grants Yahaya Bello N500m bail

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday, December 19, 2024, granted  former Kogi…

2 hours ago

Dangote refinery reduces petrol price to N899/litre

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known…

4 hours ago

Drama as govt officials storm tribunal to recover vehicle conveying lawyers

There was a mild drama in Benin, the Edo State capital, as members of the…

6 hours ago

PDP expels Vice Chairman Ali Odefa over anti-party activities

The Peoples Democratic Party in Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State…

6 hours ago

NAFDAC shuts 150 shops, destroys N5bn fake products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 150…

6 hours ago

Customs announces zero import duty, VAT on CNG, LPG equipment

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a zero import duty on machinery, equipment, and…

7 hours ago

This website uses cookies.