Dele Farotimi Blames INEC Chair Yakubu for Undermining Democracy, Fueling PDP Defections

Political activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi has taken aim at the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of contributing to the breakdown of democratic values following the controversial handling of the 2023 general elections.

During an interview on Channels TV with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Farotimi linked the mass defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the lack of accountability and transparency in the electoral process. He specifically cited the dismantling of the PDP structure in Delta State as a glaring example of the fallout.

Responding to questions on the wave of defections, Farotimi stated, “As long as Yakubu the INEC chairman has the capacity to tell Nigeria to go to court after he declared election at the middle of the night, then the PDP and other power hungry people will jump into APC, because they want second term and they don’t want prosecution.”

He criticized the political elite for their opportunistic behavior, arguing that the loss of faith in the system has led politicians to chase personal gain rather than uphold party ideologies. According to Farotimi, “Yakubu had had the capacity to tell Nigerians to go to court after he declared election at midnight,” which he said symbolizes a deepening collapse of democratic standards in the country.

His remarks reflect growing discontent among Nigerians regarding the conduct of the 2023 elections, which many believe lacked transparency. Farotimi’s critique adds to the broader conversation around electoral reform and the role of institutions like INEC in preserving democracy, especially as opposition parties face increasing instability.