The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has issued a sharp rebuke to former Transportation Minister Chibuike Amaechi over his recent criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. The youth wing of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization responded after Amaechi appeared on television to accuse Yakubu of obstructing new political party registrations and characterized him as lacking integrity.
National President Mazi Okwu Nnabuike defended the INEC chairman’s record, asserting that Yakubu has presided over Nigeria’s most credible elections in recent history. The Ohanaeze youth leader emphasized that unprecedented electoral outcomes occurred under Yakubu’s tenure, including defeats of incumbent governors and their failure to secure senate seats. Okwu argued that such results demonstrate genuine electoral competition, contrasting with Nigeria’s historical pattern of predetermined outcomes.
The organization questioned Amaechi’s credibility to critique electoral processes, suggesting his criticisms reflect personal disappointment over his preferred candidate’s electoral loss. Okwu particularly condemned Amaechi’s presidential aspirations within the African Democratic Congress, labeling him hypocritical for pursuing the party’s ticket while publicly advocating for regional power rotation. The youth leader noted the contradiction between Amaechi’s stated support for zoning arrangements and his own ambitions, given his South-South regional origin.
The statement concluded with accusations that Amaechi’s political motivations stem from his unsuccessful bid for the ruling party’s presidential nomination. Okwu characterized the former minister as driven by personal ambition rather than public interest, urging Nigerians to reject what he described as deceptive political maneuvering. The organization called for Amaechi’s political retirement from national discourse.