NewStats: 3,263,374 , 8,179,943 topics. Date: Thursday, 05 June 2025 at 05:36 PM 5g54l

By Temidayo Akinsuyi

Crisis appears to be brewing at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) between Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman, and Amina Bala Zakari, Director of Health and Welfare, which analysts said may affect the 2019 election.

Sources in the commission said Zakari, who was formerly the Director of Operations, has been embittered since her redeployment by the INEC boss in October.

Following the departure of former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Zakari became the acting chairman of the commission.

There was public outcry, especially from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that she should not be made the substantive chairman for fear that she would be biased, given her relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The president later appointed Yakubu as INEC chairman in October 2015 and he resumed office on November 9, 2015, taking over from Zakari.

A credible source said Zakari had been at loggerheads with Yakubu over her posting which had “kept her out of the spotlight and has relegated her to the background”.

According to the source, “There is serious tension in INEC, as we speak, between Prof. Yakubu and Amina Zakari.

“In fact, both of them don’t see eyeball to eyeball. Zakari, given her connection to the presidency, is more or less the most influential INEC official but Prof. Yakubu has been trying to assert his authority since assuming office.”

Another source said: “There has been serious pressure on the INEC chairman to reverse the decision and return Zakari to Operations, but he has stood his ground.

“Right now, INEC is polarized into two factions, with one loyal to Prof. Yakubu and the other loyal to Zakari.”

Efforts to reach Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, proved abortive as calls and text messages sent to his phones were not returned.

The PDP has charged the INEC chairman not to succumb to pressure to return Amina Zakari to her position.

In a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, the party stressed the need for the INEC boss to ensure that he remained on the side of the people and take urgent steps to weed the commission of compromised officials.

The party said the case of Zakari constituted another direct integrity test for Yakubu on his capacity, integrity, and readiness for free, fair and credible general election in 2019.

“The PDP cautioned that Nigerians are already aware of the pressure from the Buhari presidency to return Amina Zakari, a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari, as Director, Operation, so that they can use her to manipulate the electoral processes and rig the election for President Buhari.

“While the PDP notes the redeployment of Amina Zakari to another directorate, the party nevertheless, reaffirms its position that her continuous stay in the commission constitutes a threat to free, fair and credible 2019 general elections, given her relationship with President Buhari, who is a major contender in the election.

“Amina Zakari’s removal as Director of Operations has been hailed by majority of Nigerians, a fact which shows that voters had already lost confidence in her integrity to hold such a sensitive position, for which they prefer her outright removal from the commission,” the PDP said.

https://www.independent.ng/crisis-in-inec-as-amina-zakari-battles-inec-chairman-yakubu/

It’s like pdp are cursed.
Someone was demoted and Nigerians are cool with it . But you want her to be removed from the commission totally .
Fools !

Lol Hope she won't form N-INEC out of annoyance
or maybe annouce parallel dates for the elections
#ThisIsNigeria

"...Sources in the commission said Zakari, who was formerly the Director of Operations, has been embittered since her redeployment by the INEC boss in October....

A credible source said Zakari had been at loggerheads with Yakubu over her posting which had “kept her out of the spotlight and has relegated her to the background”.

"..Nigerians are already aware of the pressure from the Buhari presidency to return Amina Zakari, a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari, as Director, Operation, so that they can use her to manipulate the electoral processes and rig the election for President Buhari...."

An overhaul needed at INEC

Evil woman. Her plan to rig the election in favour of Jubril shall not work

oan,
PDP complained about the INEC Chairman they chose themselves in 2015.

Now, they are still complaining about the new chairman.

Maybe they will stop complaining when they make PDP National chairman the New INEC Chairman.

CRIMINALS!

Pajapaja:
It’s like pdp are cursed.
Someone was demoted and Nigerians are cool with it . But you want her to be removed from the commission totally .
Fools !

Gbam
Ipobs are pigs

INEC has two factions?

Two factions?!!!!

WTF?

This isn't healthy and election is few months away?

Who did we offend in this country sef.

Hmmm! INEC chairman is in a very deep trouble. Click on the link on my signature if you are interested in making a huge amount of money from export trade.

Oh! God help us in this forthcoming elections, we do not want bloodshed or its cause in exhibition. Buhari has tried, let another take over to make things better. I am truly Atikulated.

a

Buhari family has completely corrupted INEC

That's so sad.. Na their wahala..

The Way I'm Broke Now, I'm Thinking Of Selling Our Dog � . I Will Do The Barking At Night ����

Women will do worse when in authority of power. You want to be head of operations so you can control stuff and have access to larger chunk of bribes from politicians

Pajapaja:
It’s like pdp are cursed.
Someone was demoted and Nigerians are cool with it . But you want her to be removed from the commission totally .
Fools !

did you read the post in reverse mode?

We suspect their might not be any credible election in 2019 with the sets of fraudulent elements at the top.

How in the world did she get to position before her removal in the first place being directly related to the president.. she would obviously be bias and partisan.

HAHAHA. What is going on?

This is a dilemma for PDP. They are calling for the sack of the INEC chairman on the basis that he is compromised and yet they are still calling for the sack of Amina Zakari from INEC because she is related to Buhari.

I guess what they want is for Buhari to appoint Uche Secondus the INEC chairman and Patience Jonathan as director of Operations then they will be satisfied.

Pigs? Humans shouldn't be called pigs

Both Yakubu and Aminat shouldn't be in INEC to begin with!

All these their distraction stunt will not change the

Both Yakubu and Aminat shouldn't be in INEC to begin with!

All these their distraction stunt will not change the fact that INEC is now a department under APC!

Pajapaja:
It’s like pdp are cursed.
Someone was demoted and Nigerians are cool with it . But you want her to be removed from the commission totally .
Fools !

Is comprehension ur problem? This time, read it again slowly....

Ok all I am interested to tell you that there is nothing to be compared to investment. Plots of Land for sale at Tehilla Garden Estate Owerri Call 09024887335 for more information

Pajapaja:
It’s like pdp are cursed.
Someone was demoted and Nigerians are cool with it . But you want her to be removed from the commission totally .
Fools !

Nothing i s wrong with that.She can be appointed somewhere else but not such sensitive position if she is deem to have tendency of partisanship

Its clear Buhari wants to use his sister to destabilize election next year but they will fail.

Pajapaja:
It’s like pdp are cursed.
Someone was demoted and Nigerians are cool with it . But you want her to be removed from the commission totally .
Fools !

You are the actual fool here, you know?

Goodnews