RismadarVoice Reporters
September 10, 2026
The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has alleged that the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, worked in favour of his political opponents during the 2023 general election.
Obi made the allegation during an interview with ARISE News, where he criticised the conduct of the 2023 elections and questioned the level of trust Nigerians placed in INEC.
According to him, Nigerians relied on assurances from the electoral commission that the election would be conducted fairly and transparently.
Obi alleged that Yakubu gave Nigerians and the international community confidence in INEC’s commitment to a credible election but subsequently acted in favour of the opposition.
He said the experience had taught him and his supporters not to rely solely on assurances from electoral authorities ahead of the 2027 election.
“In 2023, we took things for granted. We believed INEC. We believed what they said they would do.
“The INEC Chairman convinced the world that he would do the right thing, when, in fact, he was working for the opposition,” Obi said.
He added that his approach would be different in the next election, saying credibility would have to be ensured through active participation in the electoral process.
Obi did not provide specific evidence during the interview to substantiate his allegation against the INEC chairman.
