The growing chorus calling for the removal of the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has gained significant momentum, with the hashtag #YakubuMustGo trending on X (formerly Twitter).
The hashtag reflects widespread discontent among X users regarding the performance of INEC, particularly following the recent Edo State governorship election. Critics argue that under Yakubu’s leadership, the commission has failed to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, casting doubt on the fairness and transparency of the election results.
Lawyer Anthony Ehilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) was among those leading the call for Yakubu’s removal. In a series of tweets, Ehilebo described the INEC Chairman’s tenure as marked by numerous failings. Accompanied by a clip from the viral diss track “Mr Yakubu” by popular Nigerian rappers Falz and Vector, Ehilebo expressed his frustration, describing Yakubu’s leadership as detrimental to the commission.
“This is the Jam banging in my head right now…so accurate for the moment,” Ehilebo tweeted. “Prof Yakubu needs to get the hell out of INEC… his sins are too many to list or count.. #YakubuMustGo.”
In a subsequent post, Ehilebo shared screenshots highlighting alleged discrepancies between the results uploaded to INEC’s IReV portal and the official certified true copies (CTC). He condemned the actions of INEC in Edo State, labelling it as a grave injustice that cannot go unpunished.
“Omo.. Guys.. the kind of Evil @inecnigeria perpetuated on the people of Edo is not something to leave without recompense or justice..,” Ehilebo continued. “Just imagine what we have gotten so far from independent investigations by @TapNitiative #YakubuMustGo shaaaaa.”
Omo.. Guys.. the kind of Evil @inecnigeria perpetuated on the people of Edo is not something to leave without recompense or justice..
Just imagine what we have gotten so far from independent investigations by @TapNitiative #YakubuMustGo shaaaaa pic.twitter.com/o5Y8gqHUUK— Anthony Ehilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) November 11, 2024
Another X user, @Akpomamus186428, expressed disbelief that Yakubu continues to hold his position despite the widespread dissatisfaction. “I don’t know why we, the people, have not really tackled this INEC chairman Yakubu? How can this one man caused us so much pain and suffering yet he still has a job!,” they posted.
The discontent also resonated with @OdogwuOgbete, who raised concerns about the role of the judiciary and security agencies in enabling what they described as electoral malpractice. “The tragedy is that the courts will go ahead to validate the evil perpetrated by INEC in Edo State; and the real calamity is that INEC will repeat the same evil in Ondo on Saturday,” the user wrote. “The satanic triumvirate of INEC, Nigerian Police and Judiciary have destroyed democracy in Nigeria.”
One of the prominent election observers, Yiaga Africa criticised the Edo State governorship election, declaring it a failure in terms of integrity due to widespread result manipulation.
